Explore the political crisis in Rivers State that led to Governor Siminalayi Fubaras defection from the PDP to the APC a significant shift preceding any similar move by his predecessor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike .
The political landscape of Rivers State a crucial oil-rich hub in Nigerias South-South region was fundamentally reshaped by the defection of its Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC This move which came on the heels of an intense power struggle with his predecessor Nyesom Wike has been analyzed as a dramatic development where the protégé made the pivotal cross-party shift before his political godfather despite the latters prominent position in the APC-led Federal Government .
The Genesis of the Crisis Godfather vs Godson
Governor Siminalayi Fubara who assumed office in May 2023 was widely regarded as the anointed successor and political son of the immediate past Governor Nyesom Wike now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Both leaders were key members of the PDP However shortly after Fubaras inauguration a deep-seated rift emerged rooted in a struggle for the control of the states political and administrative machinery .
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This conflict quickly escalated leading to unprecedented political turmoil including the splitting of the State House of Assembly into rival factions one loyal to Fubara and the other the majority aligned with Wike The crisis featured an attempted impeachment of the Governor demolition of a section of the Assembly complex and mass defections of lawmakers from the PDP to the APC .
The Intervention and the Political Ultimatum
The protracted crisis characterized by escalating violence and instability prompted the intervention of President Bola Tinubu After a period of an imposed six-month state of emergency in March 2025 which saw the suspension of the Governor and other elected officials President Tinubu brokered a series of peace agreements .
While the details of the mediation were not fully public reports and analyses by political observers strongly suggested that one of the non-negotiable conditions for Fubara to retain his seat and enjoy political stability was an alignment with the ruling party at the centre the APC .
The Calculated Defection Fubaras Move to APC
In December 2025 following a crucial closed-door meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja Governor Fubara formally announced his defection to the APC He made the declaration during a stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt explaining that the decision was necessary to give full support to President Tinubu and to move the state to where it is better for Rivers State .
Fubara acknowledged that his continued tenure was due to the special favour and high-level intervention of the President This statement coupled with his immediate defection highlighted the intense political pressure and the transactional nature of his survival within the states fractured political structure The defection was widely viewed as a move to secure his administration from the constant existential threats posed by the pro-Wike camp which was increasingly aligning with the APC .
The Political Paradox Fubara Before Wike
The timing of Governor Fubaras defection created a significant political paradox Nyesom Wike despite being a core PDP member had played a pivotal role in the election of President Tinubu of the APC forming the G5 or Integrity Group within the PDP that worked against the partys presidential candidate in 2023 Wike was subsequently appointed FCT Minister in the APC government an arrangement that many assumed was a prelude to his own eventual defection .
However Fubara his former protégé and now political adversary crossed the party lines first The Governors shift to the APC a party that had actively opposed his emergence in 2023 served several strategic purposes .
1 Survival and Stability It provided his administration with a protective cover from the Federal Government which was instrumental in lifting the state of emergency 2 Political Alignment It aligned him with the party controlling the federal apparatus neutralizing the leverage held by his opponents including the majority in the State Assembly who had already defected to the APC 3 Future Relevance It positioned him within the national ruling party a necessary step for political relevance and resource access especially in the run-up to the 2027 general elections .
In contrast Wike remained technically a member of the PDP albeit one openly working for and serving in the APC-led government Fubaras preemptive move was a direct response to a political environment where his former mentors influence exerted through APC structures had become his greatest threat By joining the APC Fubara sought to challenge Wike on his own turf and regain control over his states political destiny .
The Rivers State political crisis and the subsequent defection of Governor Fubara underscores the fluidity and transactional nature of Nigerian party politics where personal survival and access to power often supersede party loyalty and ideology .
Disclaimer:
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning the political events in Rivers State Readers should cross-check updates from official news outlets and political party pronouncements for the most current information .