Fubara denies alleged defection plans

• Insists Rivers is PDP-controlled state

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has debunked planned defection with his People Democratic Party (PDP) supporters in the state, insisting that Rivers is still a PDP-controlled state.
  
Recall that indications emerged recently that the governor and his supporters were planning to dump the PDP for the Action Peoples Party (APP) should national leaders of the party fail to hand the state party structures over to the governor.
  
At the moment, Fubara’s estranged godfather, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is holding firm the state PDP structure, even as the local government elections, slated for October this year, draw nearer.
  
The governor’s supporters, in conversations with The Guardian, threatened to pitch their tent with another party should PDP leaders continue to ignore them.
  
But speaking yesterday, the governor clarified that the alleged defection allegation was a mere rumour that should be ignored. Fubara spoke when a delegation of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoTs), led by the Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
  
According to the delegation, they were in the state for peace and unity of the PDP, saying they feared losing Rivers State.  The governor, however, said that he doubted his membership of the PDP at some time, but the visitation from the BoT has offered a stronger conviction that he is a member of the party.
  
He said: “I want to thank the chairman and members of the BoT. Honestly, if I was having any doubt about my membership of this great party, I think today I have got a reconfirmation that I am still, not minding the drama around, a member of this party.  
  
“And I want to thank you for taking all the trouble to come to Rivers State to see the governor, and genuine supporters of the party. I need to use that word, genuine because we that are here are undiluted members of the PDP.”