Fubara Cites Lack of Protection as He Dumps PDP for APC in Major Rivers Political Shift
Governor Says PDP Failed to Shield Him Amid Political Turmoil
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has confirmed his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the move became necessary after the PDP allegedly failed to protect him during the state’s prolonged political crisis.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the governor stated that his visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not a courtesy call but a strategic consultation for political survival. Akahi News gathered that the tensions in Rivers had threatened his position and deepened internal party fractures.
“We Didn’t Get the Protection We Needed,” Says Fubara
Governor Fubara revealed that he sought federal intervention when the crisis escalated, noting that President Tinubu’s support was pivotal in stabilising the state.
According to him, “I went to see Mr President not just for a personal visit, but for a consultation on state matters. The most important outcome of that meeting is that we now have full support to leave where we were because we didn’t get the protection we needed.”
Daily Post had earlier reported that the governor made his defection public during the meeting, taking several loyalists along with him into the ruling APC.
APC Offered Support Amid Political Turbulence
Fubara explained that the APC provided both political cover and institutional support needed to navigate Rivers State’s turbulent political landscape. He emphasised that Tinubu’s intervention played a crucial role in preventing what he described as a potential political downfall.
He added, “If President Tinubu had not intervened, there wouldn’t be a Siminalayi Fubara today. We have the people and supporters with us. Our decision is to move to the APC and fully support the President’s second-term bid.”
Rivers Political Landscape Braces for Reconfiguration
Fubara’s defection marks one of the most significant political shifts in Rivers State in recent years. Analysts believe the move could reshape alliances, influence local power blocs, and alter the dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akahi News learnt that with key supporters aligning with him, the governor’s crossover to the APC is expected to trigger realignment among political heavyweights and may further deepen divisions within the PDP in the state.
As Rivers State enters a new phase of political recalibration, all eyes are on the unfolding relationship between Governor Fubara and the APC leadership. What appears certain is that the governor’s decision has set the stage for heightened political activity as the countdown to 2027 begins.
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