Senate President Godswill Akpabio has suggested that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri may soon defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a further political shift in the South-South region.
Akpabio made the remarks on Saturday at a reception ceremony in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to welcome Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom into the APC. The event was held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium and attended by top APC figures, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, governors, and senators.
Governor Eno, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), announced his defection to the APC on June 6, citing alignment with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.
Akpabio described Eno’s move as not just a defection, but a “reunification of Akwa Ibom with Nigeria,” and predicted a broader trend across the region.
“Governor Umo Eno, after you, who knows? Rivers State will tumble. After Rivers, Bayelsa will join,” Akpabio said.
“Governor Sheriff of Delta, thank you for joining the progressives’ family and moving the South-South in the progressives’ direction.”
He claimed that the APC had already “won” Edo State and expressed optimism that the entire South-South would align with President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Come 2027, South-South will go one way the South-South will vote for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
“I see you becoming the first re-elected governor in 2027. I see the President getting 99.9 percent votes.”
The APC currently controls four out of the six South-South states, with only Rivers and Bayelsa still under the PDP.
