Rivers Gov Fubara Defects to APC

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor announced his decision on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the meeting, Fubara explained that the decision was tied to his desire to fully align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.“We can’t support President Tinubu if we don’t fully identify with him, not just the backyard support,” he said. “So we have taken that decision here today that everyone who has followed and suffered with me, the decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC.”

The announcement came a day after Governor Fubara reportedly visited President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

Fubara’s defection adds to a growing list of PDP governors who have recently crossed over to the APC, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Siri.

Fubara’s defection marks another major development in Rivers State’s turbulent political landscape. Earlier in March, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state following heightened political tensions stemming from a dispute between the governor and members of the state House of Assembly. The President subsequently suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Assembly for six months, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas—now an ambassador—as the state’s administrator.

After completing the suspension period, Governor Fubara returned to office, describing the emergency rule as a difficult but necessary phase to restore order. In a statewide broadcast, he pledged to foster peace and reconciliation across the state.