PORT HARCOURT — Rivers State is on the edge as reports emerge that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is preparing to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The move follows a high-stakes standoff in Abuja, where the Governor was reportedly snubbed during a party screening process.
The development has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, signaling a total collapse of the fragile peace within the Rivers APC.
The Abuja Walkout
Tensions reached a breaking point on Sunday, May 10, when Governor Fubara reportedly stormed out of the APC screening venue at the Plateau State Governors’ Lodge in Abuja. Unlike other governors who were treated with traditional fanfare, Fubara’s session was marred by delays and a frosty reception from the committee.
Visibly frustrated, the Governor spent less than 20 minutes before the panel and brushed off reporters with a blunt “no comment” as he exited the building.
Structure Stripped: 32 Loyalists Disqualified
The root of the crisis appears to be a systemic purge of Fubara’s loyalists by the APC leadership. Within the last 24 hours, the party’s screening committee reportedly disqualified all 32 House of Assembly aspirants backed by the Governor, including factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo.
In a move that many see as a victory for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the committee cleared 29 lawmakers loyal to the Minister while leaving the Governor with no legislative candidates ahead of the May 21 primaries.
The NDC “Third Force” Option
Left with no structure inside the APC, Fubara is now heavily linked with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the new coalition spearheaded by Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi. Insiders suggest the NDC has already offered the Governor a guaranteed ticket and a platform to fight for his political survival without the influence of his estranged godfather.
While the Government House in Port Harcourt has yet to release an official statement, the “Red Cap” movement in Rivers is reportedly already on standby for a massive cross-carpet exercise.
A Political Game Changer
If Fubara makes the jump, it would effectively turn Rivers State into the headquarters of the national opposition. It would also mark the final end of President Tinubu’s attempts to reconcile the Wike-Fubara feud, setting the stage for a brutal three-way battle in 2027.
As of Tuesday morning, political groups across the state are already realigning, waiting for the Governor to give the final word.
