Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He made the declaration on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Fubara explained that his decision was influenced by his desire to openly support President Bola Tinubu, noting that Tinubu’s backing was instrumental to his continued stay in office.
According to him, “without Mr President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been the former governor.”
He added that true support for the President cannot be done “from the backyard,” stressing that aligning fully with the APC was necessary.
“So, having received the green light, everyone who has stood with me and endured this journey with me, our decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC,” he declared.
Fubara’s move follows a growing exodus from the PDP in Rivers State.
Just four days earlier, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside 17 other lawmakers, defected to the APC, citing internal party crises.
Also among the defectors were several key legislators including the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol; Major Jack; Linda Stewart; Franklin Nwabochi; Azeru Opara; Smart Adoki; Enemi George; Solomon Wami; Igwe Aforji; Tekena Wellington; Looloo Opuende; Peter Abbey; Arnold Dennis; Chimezie Nwankwo; Gerald Oforji; and Ofiks Kabang.
With the Assembly leadership switching parties, reports surfaced that pressure was mounting on Fubara to join the APC as well.
The South-South, long considered a PDP stronghold since 1999, has seen significant shifts in recent years.
The party’s loss in the 2015 presidential election triggered a wave of defections that has continued to reshape the region.
Before Tuesday’s announcement, Fubara was the last remaining PDP governor in the South-South.
In 2025 alone, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno switched to the APC in April and June.
Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri followed suit in November.
Fubara’s defection marks the first time Rivers State will be governed by an APC governor.
Observers note that the PDP’s dominance in the state began to weaken after former Governor Nyesom Wike backed APC candidate Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, a move some PDP leaders described as anti-party.
Wike was later appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Tinubu.
The strained relationship between Wike and Fubara escalated into a political crisis, which culminated in the attempted impeachment of Fubara, the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex and the division of lawmakers along loyalty lines.
The tension deepened in March when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the lawmakers.
A retired naval officer, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete, was appointed as the administrator.
The emergency rule ended on September 17, leading to the reinstatement of the governor, his deputy, and the Assembly members.
Meanwhile, the PDP continues to grapple with internal divisions at the national level, with rival factions emerging and expulsion battles intensifying after the 2023 presidential election.
