Fubara announces defection to APC, cites ‘support for Mr President’

… says ‘we have the numbers’

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, has announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He made this known at a meeting with stakeholders at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday December 9, 2025.

The defection comes days after 17 Rivers lawmakers defected to the APC, and months after he returned to office at the end of a 6-month state of Emergency declared on the state by President Bola Tinubu. Fubara, while addressing stakeholders on Tuesday said, “You are aware that I went to see Mr. President yesterday (Monday), and the reason why I went for that visit is not just a personal visit, but a state interest consultation.

“I don’t want to make any mistake this time around. I wish also not to step on any landmines that anyone is laying for us. So I was with Mr. President yesterday to brief him on the situation of things in our state, and I believe he has taken note and is going to act sweetly on it.

“But the most interesting part of the meeting is that what you all have been waiting for, what you’ve been asking me, the signal has finally arrived.

“We have the full support, we have a positive note to leave where we are, because we didn’t get any protection. To go to where, the reason why we are still standing is because of that place.

“And the truth is, without Mr. President, there won’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara. He wouldn’t have been former governor.

“So we have every reason because the truth, let nobody be fooled in this state, we have the people, we have the supporters. and we have the number.

“Our only thank you to Mr President is to support him. And we cannot support Mr. President in isolation, and we can’t support Mr. President if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support.

“So we have taken that decision today since we’ve gotten the pass. Everyone here who have followed me, who have suffered with me, our decision today, this evening, we are moving to APC,” Fubara said

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date