Fubara Dumps PDP, Joins APC, Cites Tinubu’s Support

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major political shift in one of Nigeria’s most strategic states.

Fubara made the declaration during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, stating that his decision was driven by loyalty to President Bola Tinubu. According to him, Tinubu’s intervention during the state’s political crisis preserved his tenure.

“Without Mr President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara,” he said. “Our only way of saying thank you is to fully identify with him.”

He added that all supporters aligned with him would “move to the APC.”

Wave of Defections Hits Rivers Assembly

Fubara’s switch comes just four days after the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 other lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, citing prolonged internal crises within the party.

Those who left include key figures such as Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Major Jack, Linda Stewart, Smart Adoki, Enemi George, Solomon Wami, and several others across various constituencies. Their exit intensified political pressure on Fubara, fueling speculation about his eventual move.

South-South Political Realignment

The governor’s defection further thins the PDP’s presence in the South-South, once a stronghold of the party. Fubara was the last remaining PDP governor in the region after the recent defections of Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) to the APC.

The shift reflects a broader realignment that began after the APC’s 2015 presidential victory, drawing in influential political figures from the region.

PDP Influence Wanes in Rivers

Fubara’s move makes him the first APC governor in Rivers State since 1999—a symbolic end to decades of PDP dominance.

Observers trace the decline of PDP influence in the state to former governor Nyesom Wike’s open support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election—a move considered anti-party by PDP leaders. The fallout deepened the rift between Wike and Fubara, leading to legislative confrontations, attempted impeachment efforts, and the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex.

The crisis escalated until President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18 and suspended both the governor and the lawmakers, appointing a retired naval officer as interim administrator. They were reinstated in September after the emergency period lapsed.

PDP’s Ongoing Leadership Crisis

At the national level, the PDP continues to struggle with internal fractures, including factional disputes, expulsions, and counter-expulsions following its defeat in the 2023 presidential election.

Fubara’s departure, analysts say, deepens the party’s crisis and strengthens the APC’s growing foothold in the South-South.