A senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure, Umar Sani, has explained why Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was absent from the party’s national convention in Oyo State over the weekend.
Fubara, along with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas—who has indicated plans to leave the PDP—did not attend the gathering in Ibadan. In contrast, governors Ahmadu Fintri (Adamawa), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and the host, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), were present.
Sani told Arise TV that Fubara’s absence stems from his alignment with the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the PDP and described the governor as being “in a cage,” facing numerous obstacles that have limited his political engagement. He added that Fubara remains a PDP member since he has not publicly renounced the party, which is why his image appeared in the convention’s program.
“Unlike the Taraba governor, who has declared plans to join the APC, Fubara has not made any declaration, so he is still regarded as a party member,” Sani said. He emphasized that attendance at the convention is voluntary, and there was no special need to compel Fubara to attend beyond issuing the general invitation.
