A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has explained why the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, was absent from the party’s national convention held over the weekend in Oyo State.

Fubara was among several PDP governors who did not attend the convention in Ibadan, alongside Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, the latter of whom has announced plans to leave the PDP.

Governors who were present included Ahmadu Fintri (Adamawa), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and host Seyi Makinde (Oyo).

According to Sani, Fubara’s absence is tied to his alignment with the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the PDP and the “political landmines” placed before him.

“Fubara has been caged. And you know it. You know that all the landmines that were placed before him to make him not be interested in participating in politics are there,” Sani said on Arise TV.
“Fubara is neither here nor there. He has not come out publicly to say he’s no longer a member of the PDP, and that is why, in our program of activities at the convention, his picture was there, because he’s still a member of the PDP, unless he says otherwise.”

Sani distinguished Fubara’s situation from that of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, who has formally declared intentions to leave the party.

“As far as we are concerned, Fubara has not made any declaration. He’s still a member of the PDP. And there’s nothing we can say other than to say he’s still a member.
I don’t think there was that need for us to call Fubara to attend the convention because it is an invitation that is extended to every member of the party; you are invited to come or at liberty not to come.”

The convention proceeded despite conflicting court orders attempting to halt the exercise.