The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that the delay in officially welcoming Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, into the party following his defection is a deliberate political strategy rather than an indication of rejection or internal crisis.
According to the APC, the party’s leadership is sequencing the formal reception of defecting governors across the country based on strategic, regional and timing considerations, not hierarchy or favouritism.
Speaking on the matter, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda explained that the party is currently prioritising the official reception of governors who defected from northern states, before shifting focus to the South-South, where Rivers State is located.
He noted that the timing is also influenced by the approaching Ramadan period, which requires careful scheduling of major political events in predominantly Muslim regions of the country.
> “There is nothing political or suspicious about the delay. It is purely strategic and based on scheduling. Governor Fubara is already a full member of the APC,” Yilwatda said.
No Question Over Fubara’s Status in APC
The APC leadership dismissed speculations that the delay was linked to questions about Fubara’s authority within the party or lingering disputes in Rivers State. According to the party, defection and official reception are two separate processes, and the absence of a public ceremony does not diminish Fubara’s standing as a card-carrying APC governor.
Party officials also rejected claims that internal Rivers APC factions or external political actors were influencing the timing of the welcome ceremony, stressing that support groups and individual opinions do not represent the official position of the party.
Political Implications Ahead of 2027
Governor Fubara reportedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December 2025, a move widely viewed as a major realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. His defection is considered significant given Rivers State’s strategic political and economic importance, particularly in the South-South region.
Political analysts believe the APC is keen to stage a high-impact reception for Fubara that would send a strong national signal, rather than rush a ceremony that may not fully serve its broader electoral calculations.
For now, the APC insists that the delay should not be misinterpreted.
> “Governor Fubara is APC. The welcome will come at the right time,” the party leadership maintained.
The clarification appears aimed at calming speculation and reinforcing the message that the ruling party is carefully managing defections as part of its long-term strategy heading into the next election cycle.
Abuja Network News
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