Fubara Considers Joining APC Amid Ongoing Negotiations with Tinubu

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is reportedly considering a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as part of a broader set of concessions aimed at resolving the political standoff in the state. This development follows his recent private meeting with President Bola Tinubu in London — a significant step in the ongoing negotiations to end the months-long governance crisis in Rivers.

Multiple sources close to the presidency confirmed that Fubara, who has been suspended since March under emergency rule declared by Tinubu, expressed readiness to make political compromises. One such move being considered is his potential defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, in a bid to align more closely with the presidency and facilitate a quicker return to office.

“If Fubara joins the APC, it strengthens the President’s grip on Rivers State and increases the ruling party’s chances ahead of future elections,” a senior presidential aide told *The Africa Report*. The aide, who requested anonymity, added that negotiations are progressing steadily and that Fubara’s suspension could be lifted before the six-month timeline set by the emergency decree.

Fubara’s willingness to shift ground signals a significant softening of his stance since the political crisis erupted late last year. The conflict, largely driven by a falling out with his political godfather and now-FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, escalated after the controversial demolition of the State Assembly complex and the defection of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to the APC. The Supreme Court later upheld the lawmakers’ status and criticized the governor’s actions, warning that the absence of a functioning legislature amounted to one-man rule.

Despite the court ruling, the state’s machinery of governance remained frozen, with no budget passed for the 2025 fiscal year and worsening tensions across political and security lines. Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule on March 18, citing threats to national stability, temporarily removed Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, from power, replacing them with a sole administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

The London meeting marked the first direct engagement between Tinubu and Fubara since the emergency was declared. While the presidency has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of their conversation, insiders suggest the discussion focused on restoring democratic governance in Rivers and charting a path forward that may see Fubara reinstated before September.

Interestingly, Wike was not part of the London discussions, and sources indicate he is uneasy about any deal that sidelines him. However, Tinubu is reportedly planning further talks involving Fubara, Wike, and lawmakers from the state to finalize a political resolution.