Several loyalists of suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It was gathered that the defectors have pledged allegiance to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is reportedly eyeing the ADC presidential ticket.
The ADC was formally launched in Rivers on July 23, with Amaechi and other opposition figures present at a major event in Port Harcourt.
A source close to the development disclosed that a “massive defection” has taken place from the Fubara camp, and speculated that the suspended governor might also leave the PDP upon his return in September, although his destination remains uncertain.
When contacted, Sydney Gbara, Publicity Secretary of the Fubara-led PDP faction in Rivers, confirmed the defections but maintained loyalty to Governor Fubara.
“For now, the governor has not told me or anybody that we will be joining the coalition. So we are very much in PDP,” Gbara stated. “If the governor comes up today and says we are joining the coalition or APC, I will follow him.”
He downplayed the impact of the defections, describing them as individual decisions.
“Politics is a matter of choice. People are free to take their support wherever they want. But there are others who are looking up to their leaders. Whatever he \[Fubara] does is what they do,” he said.
Governor Fubara was suspended from office on March 18, 2025, along with his deputy and all state legislators, due to unresolved political crises. His return to office is expected in September.
