Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was a straightforward and natural choice, describing his time in the PDP as largely symbolic.
Fubara made the remarks on Thursday while addressing journalists at the APC national headquarters in Abuja, days after his formal defection to the party.
The governor’s move follows months of intense political tension in Rivers State, marked by a prolonged power struggle between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of the PDP structure in the state. The crisis earlier prompted President Bola Tinubu to suspend both the governor and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, before Fubara was reinstated in September.
Explaining his defection, Fubara said he had always identified with progressive ideals, insisting that joining the APC merely aligned him with his long-held beliefs.
“I have always been a progressive at heart,” he said, noting that his entry into the APC now provides clear leadership and direction for the party in Rivers State. He pledged to unite party members and work towards sustainable development in the state and the country.
Fubara described his transition as one of the easiest decisions he has made, stating that his move to the APC was partly an expression of gratitude to President Tinubu for his support during the political crisis.
Reflecting on his experience in the PDP, the governor said he was never fully integrated into the party’s internal structure, adding that most of the challenges he faced were imposed by the party itself.
“I was in the PDP only in name. During the crisis, I was not part of any group. I wasn’t inside the house; I was on the balcony,” he said.
Fubara’s defection, which took place on December 9, 2025, has been widely viewed as a significant political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially following the movement of several Rivers lawmakers to the APC.
