Magnus Abe, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 2023 governorship candidate in Rivers State, revealed his plan to switch allegiance from the SDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Politically, I am heading back to the APC,” Abe stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday.
Despite being an ally of President Bola Tinubu, Abe faced electoral defeat in the oil-rich state’s governorship race on March 18, losing to Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He had previously been a member of the APC but had continual conflicts with former Governor Rotimi Amaechi over the party’s power structure in Rivers State.
Abe missed out on becoming Rivers’ representative in the federal cabinet as Tinubu favored the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Addressing the state’s political turbulence and the recent defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the PDP to the APC due to a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, Abe advocated for peace.
He highlighted the contested position of the lawmakers, acknowledging the agreement that allowed their temporary stay in the APC, albeit facing legal challenges from external forces and the PDP.
Abe stressed the need for peace in the state, emphasizing the collective responsibility of everyone to contribute towards achieving peace amid the ongoing tensions.
“The position of the lawmakers is being contested from different angles. Their former party, the PDP is contesting the position. The governor had agreed that they can stay in the APC at the present time.
“In terms of the agreement, I think their position is secured for now, but there are some outside forces who are not party to this agreement who will still contest that fact based on the constitutional provisions.
“This is not over yet. What we need in the state is peace and everybody has something they can do to contribute to give us peace in the state,” he said.
