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By Oscar Okhifo
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara says he joined the ruling All Progressives Congress to thank President Bola Tinubu for his role in resolving the state’s political crisis, describing the defection as an easy and natural decision.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday at the APC national headquarters in Abuja, Fubara said his defection was not the result of political pressure but a voluntary move anchored on gratitude and shared progressive ideals.
According to him, joining the ruling party provided an opportunity to formally thank President Tinubu for his role in stabilizing the state at a critical moment.
“My joining the All Progressives Congress is to say thank you to Mr President and to join hands with other progressives to develop my state and Nigeria at large. It wasn’t a difficult decision; it was easy,” he said.
The governor noted that although he was elected on the platform of the PDP, he had never fully identified with the party’s internal structure, describing his membership as largely nominal.
“If I have to be honest, was I really a member of the PDP? I wasn’t. Whatever I suffered during the political crisis, about 90 per cent of it was imposed on me by the party. I was just there in name.
“During the crisis, I wasn’t part of any group. I was on the balcony, not inside the house,” Fubara said.
Fubara’s defection comes after months of political tension in Rivers State, sparked by a power struggle with his predecessor, former governor Nyesom Wike, over control of the PDP structure in the state.
During the height of the crisis, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state. It led to the suspension of both the governor, his deputy and the Rivers State House of Assembly members for six months in an effort to restore stability, before Fubara was reinstated in September.
He formally joined the APC on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, shortly after several members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also defected to the ruling party, signalling a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections in the oil-rich state.
With his APC membership, Fubara said he would prioritize uniting party members in Rivers State and providing effective leadership to strengthen the party’s presence.
“Now that I am a member, I will work to bring everyone together for greater unity and progress. There is a clear direction for the party in the state, and nothing should be a cause for concern,” he said.
It remains to be seen if his decision to join the ruling party will lead to permanent peace between him and his godfather Wike or if it will make the ever volatile state explode or implode again before the general election.