10/12/2025
Under Fire and Underperforming: The Real Meaning of Fubara’s Flight to APC
By Kingdom Chieche Nwafor
Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not come as a shock. It was not the type of political earthquake that shakes a nation, nor the kind that inspires awe or forces a recalibration of the political landscape. Instead, it was a predictable, almost inevitable escape route for a governor who has been cornered by his own missteps, governance failures, and the widening gulf between his administration and the expectations of the people of Rivers State.
For months, Fubara has been governing under a shadow—politically exposed, administratively weakened, and struggling to regain relevance after returning from suspension under the emergency rule that stunned the state. What many saw on Tuesday in Port Harcourt was not a triumphant political crossing, but a hesitant retreat—one driven by fear of the unknown, not confidence in his convictions.
A Defection Rooted in Fear, Not Courage
Fubara’s move to APC is, at its core, an act of political self-preservation. The governor has been navigating a hostile environment within the PDP, facing mounting pressure from party elders questioning not just his loyalty, but his capacity to steer the state. The prolonged internal crises, unresolved conflicts, and leadership vacuums have left him exposed in a party that once shielded him.
Rather than confront these challenges head-on, Fubara chose the safer route: aligning himself with the ruling party at the centre, where he believes federal backing may offer him the political cover he desperately seeks. But political shelter is not the same as political strength—and the governor’s motives are too transparent to be mistaken for strategic brilliance.
The Burden of Underperformance
Beyond the politics lies an uncomfortable truth: Governor Fubara has simply not delivered. Since returning from suspension, his government has struggled to regain momentum. Key infrastructural projects have stalled. Policy direction has been inconsistent. Public communication has been weak, leaving citizens unsure of where the administration stands on critical issues.
For a state like Rivers—economically significant, politically influential, and historically demanding of strong leadership—such underperformance is not easily forgiven.
The governor’s inability to re-establish firm control over his cabinet and his party only deepened the perception that he was drifting. This perception formed the backdrop of his defection, casting his move not as an expansion of political horizons but as a shrinking of options.
The APC: Safe Haven or Temporary Refuge?
APC leaders have embraced Fubara warmly, as expected. In Nigerian politics, defections are often celebrated for their symbolic value rather than their substance. But within the APC itself, questions linger: What value does Fubara bring? Can he deliver Rivers State politically? Or is he merely a distressed politician seeking relevance?
If his motive is purely survival, then APC may not offer the long-term stability he seeks. The party itself is not without internal fissures, especially in states where competing interests collide. If Fubara believes he has found a fortress, he may soon discover he has simply entered another arena of political tests.
What This Means for Rivers State
Rivers people are not fooled by political theatrics. The expectations for good governance remain unchanged. Defection does not repair roads, revive industries, complete projects, or restore trust. It does not absolve a governor from delivering on the mandate he swore to uphold.
The real danger is that this political detour may further distract an already distracted government. Instead of focusing on rebuilding the state’s administrative backbone and reclaiming public confidence, Rivers may now be plunged deeper into political calculations, alignments, and turf wars.
A Governor at a Crossroads
Siminalayi Fubara is standing at a critical intersection. His defection to the APC may offer him temporary relief from internal battles, but it also places him under national scrutiny. The burden to perform is now heavier, the excuses fewer, and the consequences for failure more severe.
He must decide whether he wants to be remembered as a governor who ran from challenges or one who rose above them. Right now, his trajectory points to the former.
Conclusion
Fubara’s journey to the APC is not a tale of ambition—it is a story of survival. It exposes the cracks in his political house, the weaknesses in his administrative style, and the fears that have haunted his tenure since he stepped back into office after suspension.
Whether this move marks the beginning of renewal or the continuation of decline depends entirely on what he does next. But one thing is clear: the people of Rivers State deserve far more than a governor who governs out of fear. They deserve leadership that is confident, competent, and courageous—qualities that have been glaringly absent in recent months.
