Why I defected to APC – Rivers Gov. Fubara

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has cited President Bola Tinubu’s love for Rivers’ people as one of the reasons for dumping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor disclosed the switch during a stakeholders’ meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The move marks one of the biggest political realignments in the state in recent years.

According to Fubara, the decision was made “in the interest of peace and steady governance.”

He also emphasised that collaboration with the federal administration had become essential for the “continued progress of Rivers’ people.”

Recall, 17 members of the state House of Assembly, including the Speaker, had earlier left the PDP for APC.

The defection is coming after months of speculation about his political future and deepening the ongoing reshaping of the state’s power structure, especially after serving out his six months suspension placed on him by the federal government.

Although tensions have simmered in Rivers State for months, the declaration still surprised many.

The defection carries significant implications for the political direction of Rivers State. For more than two decades, the state has been a stronghold of the PDP.

However, cracks began to appear earlier this year when 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly left the PDP for the APC. Fubara’s move now appears to consolidate these earlier shifts, creating a new political map with far-reaching consequences.

Observers believe the development could alter upcoming electoral strategies, especially as national parties position themselves for the 2027 elections. With Fubara joining the governing party at the centre, the APC stands to expand its influence in the South-South region.

Meanwhile, the PDP may face the task of rebuilding its structure and local confidence in a state long considered one of its most secure bases.

Fubara’s defection is also expected to provoke reactions across political blocs. Grassroots supporters may either view the move as strategic governance or interpret it as an abandonment of party loyalty. However, party insiders suggest further political repositioning could occur as alliances crystallize over the coming weeks.