Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Addressing political leaders, senior officials, and invited groups, Fubara openly declared that “Siminalayi Fubara has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, bringing an end to his long affiliation with the PDP.
His statement drew mixed reactions across the state, especially as the political crisis in Rivers has remained unresolved for months.
During the meeting, Fubara noted that his move was driven by the need for a more stable environment to run the affairs of the state.
He hinted that constant internal battles had slowed progress and that it was time to “focus on the real work” his administration was elected to deliver.
Leaders of the APC in the state are expected to stage a formal reception for the governor in the coming days.
Early reactions from party members show excitement as they describe his entry as a significant boost to the APC’s influence in the South-South region.
The PDP in Rivers is yet to release an official statement, but internal consultations are reportedly ongoing as the party evaluates the impact of losing its sitting governor.
Recall that Governor Fubara recently met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday, a meeting that sparked widespread speculation about possible political shifts.
With today’s declaration, many now believe that discussion may have played a key role in the direction the governor has taken.
In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported the protracted clash between Governor Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, a crisis that deepened the cracks within the PDP in the state. His defection appears to be the latest chapter in that long-running conflict.