The defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC has triggered sharp denunciations from the PDP, which accused the ruling party of orchestrating a political crisis to force his exit — raising fresh concerns about the shrinking of political pluralism in Nigeria.

Fubara’s defection: what happened and why

On Tuesday, during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara formally announced his decision to dump the PDP and join the APC. He attributed his decision to what he described as the PDP’s failure to protect him during the prolonged political turbulence in the state. According to him, his move was also bolstered by assurances of support from the presidency after a meeting with Bola Tinubu. Fubara said the switch was in the interest of stability and governance for Rivers State, describing the APC as a platform that offered security and the opportunity to “deliver on the mandate” to his people.

His defection now completes a shift in the South-South: all six states in the region — including Rivers — are now under APC leadership.

PDP’s reaction: a warning and condemnation

The PDP responded sharply. Party leaders rejected Fubara’s claim that they had abandoned him, arguing instead that his defection was voluntary and self-inflicted. In a statement, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under threat, describing the defection — and others like it — as part of a broader push by the ruling party toward a de facto one-party system.

According to the PDP, the mass defections and political-engineering undermine democratic institutions, weaken opposition voices, and constrict political space for dissent and accountability. The party urged citizens and democratic stakeholders to resist what it called an “ignoble decline” of democratic norms.