Fubara
By Iyunade Grace
Governor Siminalayi Fubara was officially handed his All Progressives Congress (APC) membership card on Friday at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The card was presented by Rivers APC chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, during a brief ceremony that followed Fubara’s high‑profile switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .
During the event, Fubara completed the party’s registration forms, received a party slip and the membership card, and was flanked by senior party figures, including Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, who was in town for a separate project launch. The ceremony was a formal affirmation of his new affiliation after weeks of speculation about his political future.
In his remarks, Fubara explained that aligning with the ruling APC was essential for the stability and development of Rivers State. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support, saying the state could not “stand separately” and that joining the APC would make it easier to fulfill promises to the people.
Okocha, speaking on behalf of the national APC leadership, welcomed Fubara “with whole heart” and described the assignment as “holy.” He pledged the party’s full backing for the governor’s agenda and assured that the APC would remain the dominant progressive force in Rivers, especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defection comes on the heels of a wave of defections from the PDP, with 16‑17 Rivers lawmakers, including the Speaker, already moving to the APC earlier this month. A PDP chieftain, Hakeem Olalemi, downplayed the loss, saying the party would not miss Fubara because he had been “inactive” in PDP affairs.
Overall, Fubara’s move consolidates the APC’s grip on the South‑South region, leaving all six states in the zone under the ruling party. Observers see the shift as a strategic boost for President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and a potential reshaping of the political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.
