Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a major political shift in the South-South state, historically a PDP stronghold.
The governor announced his defection on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt. Analysts say the move could reshape party alignments and power dynamics in Rivers State ahead of future elections.
Fubara had previously acknowledged that his continued tenure as governor, following a six-month emergency rule imposed due to political instability, was made possible by the intervention of President Bola Tinubu. The emergency rule came after clashes between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, led to institutional standoffs, legislative defections, and parallel assemblies in the state.
Last Friday, 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, also defected from the PDP to the APC, consolidating Fubara’s move and further weakening Wike’s influence in the state.
Political sources indicate that Fubara’s defection and the lawmakers’ shift reflect growing realignments within the federal government, as President Tinubu’s administration seeks stability in the state.
