Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fubara announced his defection on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The governor said he joined the ruling APC as a “gesture of reciprocity” for the consistent support, cooperation, and encouragement his administration has received from President Bola Tinubu since the political crisis that rocked the state in late 2023.
“We can’t support Mr President if we don’t fully identify with him; not backyard support,” the governor 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.”
Fubara’s defection comes less than a week after 15 members of the Rivers state house of assembly, including Martin Awaewhule, the speaker, joined the APC.
Two days before the defection, the 32-member Rivers assembly passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, urging him to seek re-election.
With the defection, the PDP now has six governors, with Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau planning to join the APC.
Fubara’s defection comes 24 hours after meeting Tinubu behind closed doors in Aso Rock on Monday.
