Rivers PDP pulls out of national convention, says Fubara was ‘shut out’

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state say they will not take part in the party’s national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Their stance was outlined in a statement endorsed by members of the state executive and several local government chairpersons, including Kingsley Waite, Tombari Sydney Gbara, Victor Pepple, Otamiri John Ngubo and Ejekwu Princewill.

According to the Rivers party officials, the PDP is battling a leadership conflict at the national level — a situation they say has fractured multiple state chapters and fuelled internal discord.

They noted that the wave of lawsuits and counter-suits has further aggravated the turmoil, deepening the uncertainty surrounding the party’s direction.

“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 reads.

“That in view of the various litigations and counter-litigations that have further deepened the crisis in the party.

“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.”

The officials also protested the inclusion of their photographs and names in the convention brochure, saying: “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.”

They added that, given the prevailing circumstances, “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 stakeholders reaffirmed their allegiance to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as the undisputed leader of the party in the state.

The build-up to the 2025 elective national convention has been clouded by contradictory court orders. An Oyo state high court recently directed the PDP and Umar Damagum, the acting national chairman, to proceed with preparations. Shortly after, a separate high court in Abuja restrained the party from holding the event and told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or supervise it.

Amid the legal disputes, a faction led by Sam Anyanwu announced a postponement of the convention — a claim rejected by the Damagum-led national leadership.

Despite these conflicting directives, arrangements have already commenced at Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, where the convention is expected to take place.