The Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria has sharply criticised the All Progressives Congress following the formal defection of the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing the national ruling party of engineering the prolonged political crisis that engulfed the oil-rich state in the southern Niger Delta region. Okay News reports.
The opposition party insisted that the departure of the governor does not dismantle its structure within Rivers State nor weaken its presence in the South-South geopolitical zone, despite growing concerns about shifting political power in the region.
On Tuesday, Governor Fubara publicly declared that he was leaving the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress. His decision followed similar movements by other key leaders in the region such as the Governors of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno; Enugu State, Peter Mbah; and Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, all of whom had previously switched their allegiance to the ruling party.
The governor’s defection effectively placed all six states in the South-South – Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River – under the control of the All Progressives Congress.
Fubara Explains His Reasons
During an emergency stakeholders meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Governor Fubara told political leaders that he defected for two main reasons. According to him, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party could not protect him during the deepening political rift in the state, and his continued recognition as governor was only possible because of the intervention of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said his Monday evening meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, convinced him that he would gain needed support if he fully aligned with the ruling party.
The governor declared, “Our dear leaders, I know you have been expecting to hear from me, especially this meeting that I had to arrange so urgently. But the meeting is going to end with very sweet information.”
He continued, “You are aware that I went to see Mr President yesterday, and the reason why I went to that meeting is not just a personal visit, but it is a state interest consultation. I do not want to make any mistakes this time around.”
The governor added that he briefed the President on the situation in Rivers State and received a clear signal that he would receive full backing. He stated, “We have the positive nod to leave where we are, because we did not get any protection. The reason why we are still standing is because of that place.”
He also attributed his political survival to the President, saying, “And the truth is that without Mr President, there will not be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara. It would have been a former governor.”
He explained that supporting the President could only be done openly, not secretly, hence the decision to defect. He said, “Everyone here who has followed me and suffered with me, our decision today, this evening, we are moving to APC.”
The hall immediately erupted in chants of “On your mandate we shall stand,” followed by the governor instructing that the Peoples Democratic Party flag be removed from the Government House. He added, “Please remove this PDP flag. We do not need it here again.”
Broader Political Implications
The Peoples Democratic Party reacted strongly, describing the situation in Rivers State as a reflection of deep structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s democratic system. The National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the nation was moving dangerously toward a one-party structure.
He said, “Democracy is terribly threatened by acts of this kind, and all well-meaning people should unify in condemning this progressive decline of democratic norms.”
He added that “everyone must rise together to oppose this ignoble trip toward electoral authoritarianism.”
The party also expressed pity for the governor, stating that his troubles were self-inflicted. According to the party, Fubara chose the path that eventually led to his defection.
The statement read, “This news, as pitiful as it is, is an exemplar of the old legal maxim, Volenti non fit injuria… Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group, of abandoning or not protecting him.”
They urged the governor not to fall into “Stockholm Syndrome.”
Reactions Within Rivers State
The factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Robinson Ewor, said the party remained intact despite the governor’s exit. Speaking by telephone, he argued that the governor had effectively left long before the official declaration.
He claimed that the state of emergency imposed earlier in the year was used by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to seize political control of the state.
Ewor explained, “The governor’s defection to the APC is nothing new as far as I am concerned… They conducted a local government election and took over the twenty Local Government Areas completely.”
According to him, the governor returned from emergency rule with no political structure, making his defection inevitable.
Background To The Crisis
The conflict between Governor Fubara and the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, eventually led to a constitutional crisis. By March 2025, the President declared a state of emergency, suspending the governor, his deputy, and all lawmakers for six months and appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the sole administrator.
After the emergency rule ended in September, tensions continued. By December 5, sixteen lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, pledging support for President Tinubu’s 2027 bid. Shortly after, twenty-two of the twenty-three Local Government chairmen declared similar support.
In the last local government election, the All Progressives Congress secured twenty out of twenty-three Local Government Areas.
Former House of Representatives member Chief Ogbonna Nwuke said the governor’s defection was expected considering the recent political momentum across the South-South region.
