Governors Similayi Fubara (Rivers) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), both elected on the PDP ticket, announced their defection to different parties on Tuesday. Governor Siminalayi Fubara has transitioned to the APC, while Adeleke recently announced his affiliation with the Accord Party following his departure from the PDP. Fubara’s defection was certain; only the timing was uncertain.
Governors Similayi Fubara (Rivers) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), both elected on the PDP ticket, announced their defection to different parties on Tuesday.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has transitioned to the APC, while Adeleke recently announced his affiliation with the Accord Party following his departure from the PDP.
Fubara’s defection was certain; only the timing was uncertain. Fubara announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), joining other colleagues who have made similar moves to align with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Governor confirmed his planned defection to the ruling party on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, citing internal PDP conflicts and expressing gratitude to President Tinubu for support during the state’s political crisis since 2023.
“The reason why we are still standing is because of that place, and the truth is, without Mr President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been the former governor.
“So, we have every reason because the truth, let nobody be fooled in this state, we have the people, we have the supporters. Our only thank-you to Mr President is to support him, and we cannot support the President in isolation.
“We cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support. So, we have taken that decision today since we have gotten the pass. Everyone here who had followed me, who had suffered with me, our decision today, this evening, we are moving to APC,” Fubara said.
Before Governor Fubara announced his defection, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 others left the PDP for the APC on December 5, making the PDP a minority in the state assembly.
Although political commentators expected Fubara to resist as he did in 2024 when lawmakers switched to the APC, his decision to join them now reflects a shared understanding shaped by previous political unrest in the state.
Before his reinstatement to office in September, Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, experienced a fallout that led to a prolonged political and power struggle, resulting in legal and political unrest in Rivers State.
As a result, in March of this year, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspended the governor and legislature for six months, and appointed Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.
Governor Fubara and other elected officials, including the lawmakers, were reinstated in September after a truce had been reportedly reached among the aggrieved and agitated parties.
Analysts interpret his defection as an attempt to mitigate potential future political tension and solidify his position prior to the 2027 elections.
Following Fubara’s defection to the APC, there are currently no PDP governors in Nigeria’s South-South geopolitical zone, as all previously elected PDP governors have transitioned to the ruling party.
Governor Adeleke Joins the Accord Party
In a comparable instance of political realignment, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has announced his decision to join the Accord Party. He will leverage this new affiliation as a platform to pursue re-election in August of the coming year.
The Osun governor announced his decision in a post on his verified X handle on Tuesday, just a few days after he resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to the ongoing internal crisis within the party.
Adeleke, in his tweet, said he has been with the Accord Party since November 6th, 2025, stating that he would be seeking his re-election on the platform after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
“I joined the Accord Party more than a month ago, precisely on 6th November 2025, as a platform to seek re-election in 2026. This was after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
“Stakeholders and residents of Osun State are aware of why we are taking this important decision. We intend to pursue a second term in office on the platform of the Accord Party to complete the ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends, which have been applauded at home and abroad.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens and workers’ welfare. Since I joined, I have been fascinated by the philosophy of this great party. The primary essence of a government is the welfare and well-being of the people.
“I welcome the leadership of the Accord from the National into Osun State. You are now part of us, as I am also now part of you. We are united in progress and good intentions for the good people of Osun State and Nigeria at large.
“Our task is to sustain a united front as we prepare for future elections. We have a duty to ensure an inclusive leadership where the interests of all groups are cared for. Our party, Accord Party, is here to take over Osun governance and sustain the delivery of good governance in our dear state.”
Governor Adeleke announced his decision just as the electoral commission’s deadline for party primaries was about to expire. INEC requires all parties to hold their primaries between Monday, November 24, 2025, and Monday, December 15, 2025, with nomination access codes for candidates available from Monday, December 15, 2025.
Recall that even though he announced his defection from PDP, the party still went ahead to put his name on the ballot of the state primary election, where Adedamola Adebayo emerged as the candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
