The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the defection of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, describing his move to the ruling party as a “self-inflicted injury” and an outcome of his own choices.
Governor Fubara joined Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; and his Bayelsa counterpart, Duoye Siri, all of whom defected from the opposition PDP.
Speaking on the reason for his defection on tuesday, the governor claimed that he did not receive protection from his former party, which influenced his decision to join the ruling party.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party said the National Working Committee received the news of the governor’s defection with regret, noting that Fubara willingly embarked on the political path that led to his exit. The party referenced the legal maxim volenti non fit injuria, meaning “to one who is willing, no harm is done,” to emphasize that the governor acted of his own volition.
The PDP said anyone who followed developments in Rivers State would recall that Governor Fubara’s political trajectory showed a clear and voluntary pattern. According to the statement, the governor cannot now accuse the party or individuals of abandonment, insisting that the PDP and civil society groups stood firmly by him throughout the crisis until his decision to defect.
The party expressed concern that Fubara may be acting under the strain of political trauma capable of causing “temporary amnesia,” but still wished him well. It prayed that the governor would not fall into what it termed “Stockholm Syndrome,” where a victim begins to identify with his captors.
The statement further described the Rivers crisis as a reflection of the “dysfunctional nature” of Nigeria’s democracy, where individuals appear more powerful than institutions and can allegedly use federal resources to suppress opponents. It warned that such actions pose a serious threat to democratic norms and urged Nigerians to unite in condemning what it called the “progressive decline” of democratic values.
The party also accused the ruling party of pursuing a “one-party state” and shrinking the political space, calling for collective resistance against what it described as a move toward electoral authoritarianism.
The PDP concluded by urging Nigerians and the international community to join efforts in defending the country’s democracy from further erosion.
