Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending months of intense political speculation and reshaping the political landscape of Rivers State ahead of future elections.
The governor announced his defection on Tuesday evening in Port Harcourt, declaring that his decision was driven by what he described as a “gesture of reciprocity” for the consistent support, cooperation, and encouragement his administration has received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since the political crisis that rocked the state in late 2023.
Governor Fubara noted that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Rivers State has enjoyed renewed federal attention in key sectors, including infrastructure, security cooperation, and political stability. According to him, aligning with the APC is a strategic step to consolidate these gains and deepen the relationship between the state and the Federal Government.
> “Mr. President has shown Rivers State unprecedented goodwill at a time many doubted our stability. His commitment to peace, governance, and development in our state has been reassuring. Today’s decision is simply a way of reciprocating that support,” Fubara stated.
The governor’s move finally confirms long-held suspicions that he would exit the PDP—a party under which he rose from the state civil service to become Accountant-General and eventually governor. His defection had been widely speculated as part of the political settlement brokered by President Tinubu during the peak of the Rivers political crisis, when the relationship between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, reached a breaking point.
Political observers note that his switch to the APC may further alter power dynamics in Rivers State, particularly as a significant number of lawmakers, appointees, and party stakeholders are expected to follow his lead in the coming days.
The PDP has yet to issue an official response, but sources within the party say an emergency meeting may be convened to address the development, given its implications for the PDP’s influence in the South-South region.
With Governor Fubara now in the APC, analysts say the stage is set for a new round of political realignments as the state positions itself for stronger coordination with the Federal Government.
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