Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara joins defection train with style
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
After months of political turmoil, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 evening formally defected from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) after months of speculation surrounding his political future.
The announcement was made during a high-level stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, barely 72 hours after 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker Martins Amaewhule also resigned from the PDP and joined the ruling APC.
Addressing the gathering, the governor said he had “good news” for Rivers State people, adding that he briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, December 8, 2025 concerning the political developments in the state. He praised the President for what he described as consistent support during the prolonged political confrontation that engulfed Rivers State earlier in the year.
Fubara said, “It is better for us to move from where we are to where it is better for Rivers State”, wearing his signature smile that often masks the turbulences beneath leadership decisions.
He said further, “I know you have been waiting to hear from me. I have to arrange this meeting so urgently. I know it will end on a good note. You are aware that I went to see Mr. President and the reason I went for that visit is not just personal, but a state interest consultation. I don’t want to make any mistake this time around. And also I don’t want to step on any landmine that any one is laying for us”.
Fubara’s move did not surprise political observers who have monitored the deep division between him and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and long-time political rival.
During the peace deal brokered by President Tinubu earlier this year, one of the conditions reportedly proposed was Fubara’s eventual alignment with the APC. Although he never publicly confirmed the demand, his new move appears to validate the long running speculation.
Tensions in Rivers escalated earlier this year following a controversial declaration of a state of emergency by the Federal Government from March 18 to September 18, 2025 during which the governor, his deputy and the 32-member House of Assembly were suspended pending judicial clarification.
PDP governors who challenged the move in court were never acknowledged by Fubara – a silence analysts said signaled his political detachment from the party.
The Vice Chairman (Central) of the PDP in Lagos State Mr. Hakeem Olalemi told news men that the party will not miss governor Fubara following his defection to the APC. According to him, Fubara’s decision to leave PDP was “purely personal” and driven by his quest for political protection and he believes it is President Bola Tinubu that can give him the protection he seeks”.
On whether the party would miss Fubara, the PDP chieftain said the governor had not been active in party affairs and therefore would not be missed.
“For the past two years, have you seen him in the PDP activities? No, so what exactly are we going to miss?
“Though it is not good for any party to lose members, the truth is that Fubara has not contributed meaningfully to the growth of PDP since he became Governor”, Olalemi said. He wished the Governor well in his new political journey.
With this defection, all the six South-south states are now under the APC control, raising heightened concerns among civil society groups and democratic observers who fear that Nigeria may be tilting towards a one-party dominance.
Analysts warn that the mass defections in Rivers State could alter Federal balancing, reduce opposition’s strength and shift funding and influence towards the ruling party. International observers noted that Rivers, one of Nigeria’s most economically strategic states, has now become a consolidated APC territory, raising questions about the future of electoral competitiveness.
Diplomats, following Nigeria’s political instability, described the situation as a “critical moment for democratic plurality” as the nation continues to grapple with polarization and weakened party structures.
Sources in governor Fubara’s camp revealed that the defection was based on counsel from political strategists who urged him to go and join the APC before Wike, despite the FCT Minister’s alignment with the Federal ruling party. The main objective was to secure control of the APC’s political structures in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A legal analyst, Liborous Oshoma, described Fubara’s defection as both personal and strategic, personal because it reflects his need for survival amid relentless internal battles. Strategic, because aligning with the ruling party secures federal protection while weakening Wike’s influence and reshaping the South south political map.
A professor of Public law, Rivers State University, Richard Wokocha in his own reaction, said that those in the state who defected to APC have embraced President Tinubu. Wokocha, during an interview on Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, December 10, said it is an alliance with President Tinubu.
“What it implies is that for him (Governor Siminalayi Fubara) and his house, they have decided to embrace the President by joining the President party”, he said’
“The FCT Minister may be in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP but working currently under an All Progressive Congress, government. If the state structure has moved to the All Progressive Congress, it should mean that they are under the same leader now and are not taking different instructions from different directions” Wokocha said.
However, the Professor thinks this should signify a new possibility for peace and opportunity in Rivers State “because at the moment it feels like all the segments of Rivers political theatre where they had all the drama are now aligned to one side and have allegiance to one leader which is the President”. According to the University don, “it signifies a coming together and we should expect less negative drama as we have seen in the past”, he said.
In the meeting with stakeholders at Government House, Port Harcourt, in his speech, the never referenced his political god father, the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike, an indication that Wike was neither consulted nor his approval needed before action was taken. Fubara kept emphasizing that his political savior remains Tinubu himself and vows to support Tinubu with everything in him.
Information available from the political corridors in Rivers State has it that Fubara has now become President Tinubu’s adopted political son, and do not need to pass through Wike to see the President any longer, a development that could be described as “uppercut” to the FCT Minister’s power game. And Wike’s unusual quietness since Fubara defection seems to indicate that all is not well with the political temperature around the loquacious politician.
Fubara is obviously consolidating in his new found Abuja front and is subtly gain grounds and holding same for Tinubu and himself ahead of 2027 elections.
Recall that at the Abuja front, Wike is at loggerheads with the powers that be in the country due to his approach to politics and administrative duties as FCT Minister.
Wike has stepped on very big toes including the most dread military cabals in the country, a development that has made him lose much friendship and good will at the seat of power.
Analysts are already adding mathematics to figure our president Tinubu’s game plan to capture Rivers State through a more stable Governor Fubara as against having to contend with Wike who has been reportedly giving the president a lot of issues and political pressure.
A political analyst, Emeka Mba while analyzing the defection has this to say, “If you observe the atmosphere in Rivers State now, you will notice the entire populace across political divide, are genuinely happy for the governor. There is genuine breath of fresh air.
Fubara is genuinely and organically loved by the people” he said.
Governor Fubara’s move to APC has been one of the most talked-about political developments of the moment sending shockwaves through Rivers Politics. His defection marks a major realignment in the state’s power structure and deepens the already tense rivalry between him and former governor Nyesom Wike.
