The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, has again deflated the rumour making the rounds that the Rivers state governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, was going to leave the party.
While clearing air on the rumour on Saturday at a pre-national convention briefing in Abuja, Mohammed, who is also the National Convention Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee Chairman stated emphatically that the Fubara has not left the party adding: “He is still in PDP. But of course you are aware that everybody has his own style.”
Mohammed was quick to add that: “He is a humble young man who has gone through so much and has done well to accommodate all the problems and challenges he found himself in.
“Certainly, he is still in PDP, and to me, he is still my deputy in the committee.”
On the Enugu state governor, Peter Mbah’s possible defection, Mohammed said he has not told the party his position, declaring that such decision was personal and his to make adding: “We cannot remove his picture from our Convention plans and all that before he leaves. When he leaves, we will replace him with another person.
“But up till now, he has not told me he’s leaving. I have discussed this issue with him separately, and he has given me assurances.
“He’s a governor like me. I respect him and his decisions. If he goes, we will replace him.”
When asked whether the party would be welcoming former President Goodluck Jonathan back into its fold as an aspirant ahead of the 2027 project, he said PDP is big, saying people are still interested in the party, and that their association with the party makes them happy.
“As governors, we have resolved to put personal interests aside.
“I have exceeded my personal expectations. I stepped out to be a presidential candidate in the 2023 election, but I stepped down to become a governor. I have done my best, and I’m happy.
On the legal threat over the planned Convention slated for Ibadan, convention, Mohammed added: “I cannot speak for the National Working Committee, but as a leader within the party, I know they are doing their best to address issues of litigations. Many are artificially created to undermine us, but we don’t have any faction in the PDP.
“At the state level, I have even seen some people taking us to court not to go for a convention. This is not good and makes some at the National Assembly feel unsafe.
“We are addressing these issues squarely. Comparatively, most of the other parties are not better off than us. We are better off than most opposition parties. Some don’t even have leadership at the national level. We are the only ones intact—with one National Secretary, one National Chairman, and one Publicity Secretary.
“This meeting gives hope that at the end of the day, we will deliver. As a big party with a history since 1999, still with the same logo, colours, manifesto, and leadership, we should commend the National Working Committee for doing well despite limitations.”
