Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday publicly confirmed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), framing the seismic political shift as a necessary move for the future of the state.
The governor made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, directly addressing the speculation that has surrounded his political allegiance for months.
“This decision reflects my commitment to ensuring stable governance and aligning with partners who support the progress of Rivers State,” Governor Fubara told attendees, providing his first official rationale for the cross-carpeting.
The decision came just a day after Fubara had a closed door meeting with President Tinubu in State House.
The declaration marks a dramatic realignment in the state’s volatile political landscape, effectively ending a prolonged period of tension between the governor’s camp and the PDP’s national structure. His move to the ruling APC at the national level is seen as an effort to consolidate his administrative control and secure federal alignment.
While the governor’s statement emphasised governance and progress, the move is anticipated to draw sharp reactions from former PDP allies and could redefine longstanding alliances. Key stakeholders within and outside Rivers State are now forced to recalibrate their strategies in light of the new political reality.
Governor Fubara’s defection to the APC is the climax of a protracted and bitter political feud with his immediate predecessor and erstwhile benefactor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The rift, which became public in late 2023, centred on a struggle for control of the political structure and resources of Rivers State. Wike, a powerful figure within the PDP, was instrumental in Fubara’s rise to power but a fallout quickly ensued over governance and party control.
The conflict reached a fever pitch on December 11, 2023, when members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Minister Wike, moved against the Governor. In a rapid sequence of events:
An Attempted Impeachment: Pro-Wike lawmakers served an impeachment notice on Governor Fubara, citing gross misconduct. This triggered a crisis that led to a physical confrontation at the Assembly complex, which was reportedly damaged by fire.
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