In a development that has sent ripples through the Rivers State political landscape, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Chisom Kenneth Gbali, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect.
The resignation of Gbali, a key ally of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, became public on Thursday via an official letter addressed to his ward leadership in Ward 1, Ayama Ndoki, Oyigbo Local Government Area.
In the letter, Gbali stated that his decision to leave the party followed “careful reflection and personal consideration.”
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the leadership and members of the party for opportunities, relationships, and experiences I gained during my time as a member of the party,” Gbali wrote. “I remain committed to the continued service and development of our people and state, and I wish the party well in its future endeavors.”
He further requested that his name be formally purged from the APC’s membership registers.
While Dr. Gbali did not explicitly outline the grievances behind his exit, close political observers are linking the move to bubbling internal friction within Governor Fubara’s political structure.
Gbali had joined the APC alongside Governor Fubara following the governor’s high-profile defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, the integration of Fubara’s loyalists into the existing Rivers APC structure has reportedly been fraught with disagreements over party control, executive positioning, and candidate selection.
As one of the most prominent youth figures in the state executive council, Gbali’s sudden departure is being viewed as a significant blow to the governor’s camp. Insiders whisper that his exit could trigger a domino effect, raising anxieties that a wave of supportive government officials might follow suit.
Beyond the immediate political optics, Gbali’s resignation is expected to shake up grassroots mobilization in the state. Holding the youth portfolio, he has been central to Governor Fubara’s outreach programs, commanding heavy political leverage in Oyigbo and its surrounding local governments.
Sources close to the commissioner have downplayed the drama, maintaining that the decision was “purely personal” and strategically calculated for his long-term political career.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Government House nor the state chapter of the APC has released an official statement regarding the commissioner’s resignation. The move underscores the increasingly volatile and unpredictable nature of Rivers State politics as factions continue to aggressively realign.
