Fubara Set To Join APC After Secret Tinubu Deal: Inside the Political Siege of Rivers State

 

The political landscape in Nigeria continues to shift as fresh revelations point to an intense power struggle that has seen Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, surrender to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following a prolonged campaign of political coercion, institutional subversion, and strategic intimidation by the Federal Government.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reported to have played a central role in this unfolding drama, overseeing a covert operation to destabilise opposition strongholds ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to exclusive findings obtained by SaharaReporters, Fubara’s defection to the APC was the culmination of calculated efforts designed to dismantle dissent and enforce loyalty across Nigeria’s political terrain.

Highly placed sources describe the campaign against Fubara as a systematic assault on democratic governance. From the judiciary to security agencies, and even the National Assembly, every arm of the state allegedly became a tool to discredit, isolate, and eventually break the Rivers governor. The decision to switch political allegiance, those familiar with the matter claim, was made not out of conviction but necessity—driven by the desire for political survival in a climate of escalating repression.

Central to this ordeal is FCT Minister Nyesom Wike—once a mentor, now a chief adversary. With backing from the Presidency, Wike reportedly led a relentless effort to undermine Fubara’s authority through legislative sabotage, threats of impeachment, and legal manoeuvres. Despite public denials, insiders confirm that Wike was executing a federally sanctioned strategy to force Fubara into submission.

“The game was clear—control Rivers by any means,” a political insider revealed. “Tinubu’s team sees Rivers as a strategic prize in 2027, and Fubara was the last obstacle. The hardship, insecurity, and economic strain on the people are making the administration unpopular. The Presidency needed insurance—and they found it in Fubara’s capitulation.”

Despite public condemnation from civil society and prominent citizens, the pressure on Fubara intensified. What many now refer to as the tipping point came during a confidential negotiation between Tinubu and Fubara during the so-called “2025 London Peace Accord.” Though never officially acknowledged by Aso Rock, that meeting, confirmed by sources, was where Fubara agreed to join the APC in exchange for reinstatement under strict conditions.

Prior to this deal, Fubara had been suspended from office alongside his deputy, Ngozi Odu, following Tinubu’s unprecedented declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. The declaration invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), citing a breakdown of law and order. It was a controversial move that saw the dissolution of both the executive and legislative arms of the state, replaced by a sole administrator—retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a figure seen as closely aligned with the Presidency.

What followed was a federal security takeover of government buildings and institutions in Port Harcourt, fuelling accusations of authoritarian overreach. Critics decried the move as a gross abuse of power, aimed at politically incapacitating an elected governor to pave the way for APC dominance.

While the political establishment has moved to spin the situation as a resolution of conflict, analysts say Fubara’s return and political realignment reflect deeper issues plaguing Nigerian democracy. His public humiliation and subsequent surrender are now seen as evidence of the ruling party’s willingness to subvert democratic principles to maintain a grip on power.

Wike, in a recent BBC Pidgin interview, dismissed allegations of conflict with the governor, instead framing himself as a misunderstood leader seeking order. “Fubara is my son,” Wike stated. “Why will I fight with him? I’m only fighting people trying to steal what they didn’t work for.”

Observers, however, are not convinced. Many view the new-found truce as an artificial peace brokered through coercion and political threats. “This is not reconciliation—it is capitulation,” one source argued. “Fubara didn’t win a negotiation; he survived a siege.”

With the 2027 elections approaching, the Rivers case may serve as a blueprint for how power will be contested and retained at all costs. For many Nigerians, the events in Rivers serve as a chilling reminder of how political ambition can hollow out democratic institutions and strip elected leaders of their mandate—leaving governance vulnerable to the whims of a centralized power elite.