Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He announced the decision on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, describing the switch as a “gesture of reciprocity” for the steady support he has received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially since the political crisis that shook the state in late 2023.

“We can’t support Mr President if we don’t fully identify with him; not backyard support,” Fubara said. “So, we have taken that decision today. Since we have gotten a pass, everyone here who followed and suffered with me, our decision today is that we are moving to APC.”

Shortly after the declaration, the governor reaffirmed his move on his official X handle, referencing his recent meeting with the President.

He wrote:
“Following my visit to President @officialABAT in which I briefed him on the situation in Rivers State, I had a meaningful discussion with Rivers State stakeholders at the Government House, Port Harcourt. We agreed that we have every reason to identify with Mr. President as I wouldn’t still be here as the Governor without him. We also decided to leave the PDP, our previous platform, and join the APC as Mr. President has been supportive all through. With the people’s trust, the only way to show our gratitude is to support him completely and wholly.”

Fubara’s defection follows swiftly on the heels of a mass move by 15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who joined the APC last week. Just days before switching parties, the 32-member Assembly passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu and encouraged him to seek re-election.