Defecting to APC Was An Easy Political Decision, Declares Rivers State Gov, Fubara

•Urges loyalists to support Tinubu’s re-election

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said he didn’t find it difficult defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it was an easy one.

The governor also added that he had no regrets leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party was never there for him throughout his political travails.

Fubara, who spoke to journalists after his official familiarisation visit to the national leadership of the party in Abuja on Wednesday night, said moving to APC was one of the easiest political decisions he took.

His words: “I think my transition was one of the easiest things I have done in my life. I call it easy because saying thank you is very simple. Showing appreciation and gratitude is easy.

“My joining the All Progressives Congress is to say thank you to Mr President and to join hands with other progressives to develop my state and Nigeria at large. It wasn’t a difficult decision; it was easy. If you know my story, you should understand that.

“I was in my former party, just there. During the crisis, you can’t associate me with any group. I was just, let me say, at the balcony—I wasn’t inside the house; I was not outside, at the balcony.”

Stating his reason for visiting the party secretariat,  Fubara noted that he couldn’t belong to a house without first coming into the house and understanding how it was arranged.

“I felt it would be proper for me to visit the national secretariat to familiarise myself with the members and the operations. This way, when I come here next time, it won’t feel as if I am a new person.

“So, I am here to assure you that I have come in, and we will work together to ensure that this party becomes greater than it is. The greatness we all desire from this party is the success of Mr President.

“We cannot grow or expand if Mr. President is not succeeding. I can assure you that we are already showing evidence of success in my state through what we are delivering and the number of people affirming their support,” he said.

Responding to whether he has regrets dumping the PDP, he said, “If I have to be honest, was I really a member of the PDP? I wasn’t. Whatever I suffered during the political crisis, 90 per cent of it was imposed on me by the party.”

Earlier, the  National Chairman of the party, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the leadership of the party was happy about his decision to join them.

Yilwatda, who was represented by the national secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said, “I will say that, as a party, we are very happy that you have decided to join because, with your orientation, you are progressive and true, and, of course, you complete the circle for us in the South-South region.

“The geopolitical zone is the first that is completely APC. For people who are political watchers, if you have the South in any political party, I think the strength and the energy of that political party are more than half the power.

“So we are very confident that you are joining our party. The strength of our party, if it was at Power 15 before, it is now much better—it has become Power 100,” he said.

In another development, Fubara, has urged his loyalists to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, describing the task as a collective responsibility ahead of the next general election.

The governor made the appeal yesterday, while inaugurating the 9.7kilometre Ogbakiri Roundabout–Ogbakiri Waterfront Road in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

Describing Tinubu’s re-election bid as a major assignment, the governor said he had already commenced grassroots mobilisation, noting that the large turnout of residents at the commissioning ceremony was a clear indication of progress.

According to him, the enthusiasm displayed showed that about 70 per cent of the mobilisation work had already been achieved in the local government area.

“We know you are hardworking and that you enjoy organic support. What we need now is to transfer this support to the success of our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I assured the party leadership not to worry, because what truly matters is having the right foot soldiers on ground,” he said.

The governor described the Ogbakiri road as a landmark achievement, recalling that it was initiated at one of the most challenging moments of his administration.

He revealed that the first payment for the project was made at a time when the state was under a court order restricting access to federal allocations.

Fubara said despite the challenges, his administration chose to keep faith with the people, trusting that “God would always make a way,” adding that the completed road stands as evidence of his government’s commitment to service delivery and promise-keeping.