Gov Fubara Defects to APC
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). He announced his decision on Tuesday during a stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Wave of Defections
Fubara’s defection comes four days after the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 other lawmakers also left the PDP for the APC on December 5. The legislators said they were leaving because of ongoing crises within the PDP.
Those who defected include Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba Egbema Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari Toru 2) and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Others are Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), Gerald Oforji (Oyigbo) and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
Following the mass exodus, reports surfaced suggesting that Fubara was facing growing pressure to leave the PDP and join the ruling APC.
Political Realignment
The South South region has traditionally been a stronghold of the PDP since 1999, but the party began to lose its dominance after its defeat to the APC in the 2015 presidential election. That loss triggered a wave of political realignments, with several key political figures, including governors, crossing over to the APC.
Before his defection, Fubara was the only PDP governor remaining in the South South. He switched parties after Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno defected to the APC in April and June.
Waning PDP Influence
Fubaras move marks the first time Rivers State will be governed by a member of the APC. The PDP had maintained control over the state for more than two decades.
Many observers believe the party’s influence began to decline after former governor Nyesom Wike publicly supported APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election. Wike took this position after Atiku Abubakar emerged as the PDP presidential candidate, a development that angered some party leaders who viewed Wike’s actions as anti party.
Tinubu, who was later declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, appointed Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The sustained power struggle between Wike and Fubara escalated tensions within the state and led to a confrontation between the governor and lawmakers aligned with Wike. The crisis resulted in the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex and an unsuccessful attempt to impeach the governor.
President Tinubu intervened on March 18 by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State. He suspended the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu and the lawmakers, and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ete (retd.) as the administrator.
READ ALSO: The taming of Siminalayi Fubara, by Kazeem Akintunde
When the emergency rule ended on September 17, all suspended officials were reinstated.
PDP Leadership Crisis
Meanwhile, the PDP continues to struggle with internal division following its defeat in the 2023 presidential election. The party remains split at the national level, with rival factions issuing suspensions and counter suspensions of prominent members.
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