Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially formalised his membership in the All Progressives Congress (APC), receiving his party card from State Chairman Chief Tony Okocha during a brief ceremony at the Government House on Friday.
The event follows Governor Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, which he announced at a stakeholders’ meeting on December 9, 2025.
Attendees at the ceremony included APC State Secretary Eric Nwibani, Publicity Secretary Chibuike Ikenga, and Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, who was in Port Harcourt for a road project commissioning.
Chief Tony Okocha, praising the governor’s decision, revealed he was mandated by the APC National Chairman to present the membership card as a prelude to Fubara’s official reception.
“Let me take this time out to congratulate you on your decision to join the All Progressive Congress,” Okocha said.
In response, Governor Fubara described his move to the APC as essential for the safety, protection, progress, and development of Rivers State, emphasising the need to align with the federal government and the ruling party.
He called it a “spiritual assignment,” thanking Okocha for accepting the role.
Fubara credited President Bola Tinubu’s interventions for his continued tenure, stating: “There is every reason to support Mr President. If not for any other thing, as a person, I know the sacrifice he has made to ensure that we still stand as a government.”
The governor portrayed his defection as a personal favour to ease President Tinubu’s 2027 reelection in Rivers State: “So I took this decision as my own return favour, my own clearing the bush to ensure that his reelection come 2027 will be easy, smooth in this state. Now that we are all in one party… We are now inside one flat.”
Expressing gratitude to the APC national and state executives, Fubara assured them: “We will do everything to keep APC as the main and active progressive party in Rivers State. It is my responsibility from this minute to ensure that the party is properly taken care of. Every need of the executive, every need of the party in this state, becomes my responsibility.”
