Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is rumored to be on the verge of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Last week majority of Rivers House of Assembly members defected to the APC fueling rumour about the political future of the Governor.
According to reports, it is not clear when Governor Fubara would announce his defection to the ruling party, but analysts say his defection is not a surprise and could just be part of a plan by the ruling party to gain control of more states ahead of the 2027 general election.
Since resuming office after the six months suspension, the River Governor has not publicly associated with the PDP and did not attend the recently held controversial PDP’s convention in Ibadan which produced Ahmed Gulak as the national chairman.
Fubara’s imminent defection comes after Fubara recently patched up with his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Read also: Fubara hungry for independent judiciary, vows full support for effective judicial system in Rivers
The political tension between Fubara and Wike escalated in late 2023, culminating in an attempted impeachment by pro-Wike lawmakers and an arson attack on the State House of Assembly complex.
The crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, leading to Fubara’s suspension and a six-month administration by a sole administrator .
Fubara’s potential defection is seen as a bid to seek political refuge and align with the federal power structure, given the weakened state of his PDP base.
He previously won the PDP governorship primary in 2022 with Wike’s endorsement and went on to defeat APC candidate Tonye Cole in the 2023 governorship election.
