Fubara officially dumps PDP, defects to APC

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has defected from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Fubara announced his defection at the government house in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

He joins Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; and his Bayelsa counterpart, Duoye Siri, all of whom defected from the opposition PDP.

Fubara said on Tuesday, “We can’t support President (Tinubu) if we don’t fully identify with him, not just the backyard support. So we have taken that decision here today that everyone who has followed and suffered with me, the decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC.”

His defection came after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday although the details of the meeting were not disclosed.

On March 18, 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months over political tension in the oil-rich South South state.

He then appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, who has now been appointed an ambassador, as the state’s administrator to oversee governance.

Fubara resumed office six months later.