Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara Defects to APC

Governor Fubara Joins All Progressives Congress

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, during a stakeholders' meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt. This move marks a significant political realignment in Nigeria's South-South region.

Reasons Behind the Political Shift

Governor Fubara stated that his decision was influenced by the PDP's alleged failure to provide him with adequate protection during the recent political crises in the state. He credited President Bola Tinubu with intervening to ensure his continued tenure as governor, emphasizing that without the President's support, he 'wouldn't be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been former governor.' Fubara expressed his intention to offer 'full support' to President Tinubu, stating, 'We can't support Mr President if we don't fully identify with him, not backyard support.'

Context of Rivers State Political Crisis

The defection follows months of intense political infighting in Rivers State, primarily stemming from a feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This protracted crisis had previously led to a split within the Rivers State House of Assembly and repeated legislative impeachment attempts. Just days before Fubara's announcement, 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had also defected from the PDP to the APC, further altering the political balance in the state.

PDP's Reaction and Future Implications

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reacted sharply to Fubara's defection, describing it as a 'self-inflicted injury' and a culmination of choices the governor 'willingly embraced.' In a statement, the PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, asserted that Fubara 'willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination' and therefore 'cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group, of abandoning or not protecting him.' The party also raised concerns about the 'dysfunctional nature of Nigeria's democracy' and accused the ruling APC of attempting to establish a one-party state. Political analysts suggest that Fubara's move significantly reshapes the political landscape of Rivers State and the broader South-South region, which has historically been a PDP stronghold, ahead of the 2027 elections.