Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have finalised plans to defect from the party following the governor’s sudden withdrawal from the party’s governorship primary.

New Telegraph had earlier reported that Fubara pulled out of the APC primary on Wednesday, hours after another aspirant, Architect Tonye Cole, announced his withdrawal from the race.

Also, Fubara’s loyalists lost out during the primaries for the House of Assembly, Reps and Senate, losing to the loyalists of Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Fubara’s resignation, according to a reliable source, has not gone down well with some of his loyalists, who are unhappy that the governor decided to withdraw from the race rather than put up a fight.

Already, Dr Chisom Kenneth Gbali, the state Commissioner for Youth Development, and a vocal supporter of Fubara, has officially resigned from the APC, which he joined from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Gbali, a prominent face that represents the youth in the state executive council, was made the caretaker chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area by Wike and served in other capacities throughout the eight years he served as governor.

In his resignation letter from the APC, Gbali, who hails from Ward 1, Ayama Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area, said that he reached the decision ‘after careful reflection and personal consideration.”

He said, “I, Hon. Chisom Kenneth Gbali, PhD, of Ward 1, Ayama Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, hereby formally tender my resignation as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect.

“This decision was reached after careful reflection and personal consideration. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the leadership and members of the party for the opportunities, relationships, and experiences I gained during my time as a member of the party.

“I remain committed to the continued service and development of our people and state, and I wish the party well in its future endeavours.

“I kindly request that my name be removed from the party’s membership records and registers accordingly.”