Fubara
Olamilekan Abayomi
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has shut down rumors that he dumped the All Progressives Congress for the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of 2027. Speaking on May 13, 2026, during an inspection of the newly constructed General Hospital and remodelled Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor LGA, he said, “I am a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and nothing has changed.”
The denial came after days of speculation online that Fubara had followed his brother, Blessing Fubara, who defected to the NDC last week. Reports also linked the governor’s alleged move to the disqualification of several of his loyalists from the APC House of Assembly screening in Rivers. Fubara said people should stop relying on social media posts and personal interpretations to misrepresent his position.
Fubara stressed that his priority remains the APC and its overall interest, not personal ambition. “I’ve not gone anywhere. I’m still a member of the APC, and I remain a member. Whatever happens, what is important is supporting the overall interest of the party,” he told journalists. His Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, later issued a statement reaffirming the same position.
The clarification followed his appearance before the APC governorship screening committee on May 11 at the Plateau State Governors’ Lodge in Abuja. The exercise was chaired by APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru in the absence of National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda. Fubara’s session was brief and he declined to speak to journalists afterward, saying only “No comment.
The timing of the defection rumors is tied to ongoing tensions in Rivers APC. Fubara’s strained relationship with his predecessor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has deepened since both men aligned with different factions in the party. Screening committees cleared several Wike loyalists for the 2027 House of Assembly race while disqualifying pro-Fubara lawmakers, including Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, and Timothy Orubibanugha.
Staying in the APC keeps Fubara within the ruling party structure as he seeks re-election in 2027. Analysts say his public denial suggests the rumors were gaining traction and risked undermining his standing ahead of primaries. Remaining in APC also allows him to appeal the disqualification of his allies and negotiate with the party leadership in Abuja.
During the hospital inspection, Fubara shifted focus to his administration’s healthcare projects. He explained that the conversion of the former psychiatric facility into a general hospital was driven by the lack of accessible healthcare in Rumuigbo, Rumuola, Rumuolumeni, and nearby communities. Residents previously had to travel to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The governor said the project is about 95% complete and reflects his administration’s commitment to bringing quality healthcare closer to the people. By addressing the defection rumors on the same day, Fubara appeared to separate political speculation from governance, signaling he intends to run on his record while remaining within the APC fold.
