Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State don waka comot from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) go join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Di governor announce him defection during stakeholders meeting wey happen for Government House, Port Harcourt. Dis move come just four days after Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, plus 17 other lawmakers dump PDP for APC on December 5. Di lawmakers bin blame their exit on di serious wahala wey dey shake PDP. Among di people wey follow comot na Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1). Others include Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), Gerald Oforji (Oyigbo) and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni). Reports bin dey fly say pressure dey mount on Fubara to follow join APC after him key supporters for House of Assembly don move. Political Realignment for South-South Since 1999, PDP don hold strong for South-South, but after dem lose presidential election to APC in 2015, alignment begin change. Many big politicians begin shift ground enter APC. Before today, Fubara na di only PDP governor wey remain for South-South after governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom dump PDP for APC earlier for April and June. Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa self drop PDP for November but never announce new party. PDP Influence Don Dey Drop Fubara entry into APC mark di first time Rivers State go get APC governor. PDP don dey control di state since 1999. Many people believe PDP influence begin drop for Rivers when former governor Nyesom Wike openly support APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu for 2023 election instead of Atiku Abubakar, wey be PDP candidate. Di move cause serious kata kata inside PDP. Tinubu later appoint Wike as FCT Minister after him win presidential election. But since Wike and Fubara begin get misunderstanding, political wahala don full Rivers. Di kasala reach point wey Assembly complex bin partially demolish and impeachment attempt sef enter the matter. Tinubu later declare state of emergency for March 18, suspend Fubara, him deputy Ngozi Odu, plus di lawmakers, and appoint Vice Admiral Ibok Ete (retd.) as administrator. When di emergency rule expire for September 17, President Tinubu restore all of dem back. Meanwhile, PDP own palava still dey worse as leadership wahala continue scatter di party with factions, expulsions and counter-expulsions everywhere. With Fubara now officially inside APC, many analysts dey watch to see how Rivers political landscape go change for coming months.
