Speculation Grows As Rivers Governor Fubara Faces Possible Exit From PDP Amid Lawmakers’ Defection To APC
Tension within Rivers State politics has intensified amid growing talks that Governor Siminalayi Fubara could be weighing a possible exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The speculation followed a dramatic shift in the State House of Assembly, where 17 lawmakers aligned with former governor Nyesom Wike announced their defection to the APC on Friday. With only three lawmakers still believed to be loyal to Fubara — and none of them returning to legislative duties since the lifting of the six-month emergency rule — uncertainty now hangs over the governor’s political direction and control of the Assembly. Reacting to the development, a PDP leader and former House of Representatives member, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the political realignments unfolding across the South-South region may eventually draw Fubara into the APC. He pointed to recent defections of PDP governors in Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states as signs of a wider collapse of the party’s influence in the region. Nwuke explained that instability within the PDP has made defections almost unavoidable. He noted that internal disputes and leadership battles have weakened the party to a level unseen in years. According to him, constitutional provisions on defection also acknowledge that deep divisions at the national level can justify such moves. He further described the PDP’s recent actions, including issuing what he termed an unprecedented “expulsion certificate,” as evidence that the party is in serious trouble. In his words, members are merely reacting to a party that has become deeply fractured. On whether Fubara’s defection is imminent, Nwuke said only the governor can make that decision public, but developments on ground suggest the option is being considered. He added that if Fubara eventually leaves the PDP, he would not be the first to take such a path. However, the Rivers State Government has dismissed the rumours as unfounded. A senior official at Government House, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor has given no indication that he plans to defect. The official also questioned the validity of the lawmakers’ defection claims, insisting they have not met the Supreme Court requirement of formally registering their new party membership at their wards. According to the official, until such evidence is produced, the alleged defection should not be taken seriously.
