Key leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State have formally dissociated themselves from the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The position was contained in a statement jointly signed by several state executive members and local government chairmen, including Kingsley Waite, Tombari Sydney Gbara, Victor Pepple, Otamiri John Ngubo and Ejekwu Princewill.
In the strongly worded statement, the Rivers PDP leaders said the lingering leadership crisis at the national level had splintered the party across multiple states.
“That as a result of the leadership crisis in the party at the national level, which has polarised the party in so many state chapters,” the statement read.
They added that ongoing court battles have further destabilised the PDP.
“That in view of the various litigations and counter-litigations that have further deepened the crisis in the party,” they said.
The leaders also accused the national leadership of failing to consult with the Rivers chapter or with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom they described as their undisputed leader.
“That there was no proper communication channel between the national leadership of the party and our leader, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, governor of Rivers State, which has consequently left us incommunicado,” they stated.
The stakeholders expressed displeasure that their names and photographs appeared in the convention brochure without consent.
They said, “We were neither consulted, nor was approval sought and obtained, before our names and photographs appeared in the brochure of the proposed Ibadan national convention of the party.”
Citing the unresolved crisis and the breakdown of communication, the leaders announced a unanimous decision to boycott the convention.
The chapter added, “In view of the above, we therefore unanimously resolved not to participate in the forthcoming national convention scheduled to hold on the 15th to 16th of November 2025 at Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.”
The Rivers PDP leaders reinforced their allegiance to Governor Fubara, declaring that he remains the authentic and uncontested leader of the party in the state.
