PDP Describes Fubara’s Defection to APC as Self-Inflicted Wound, Expresses Sympathy

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has finally broken its silence on the political earthquake that rocked Rivers State over the weekend, describing the defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as nothing short of a “self-inflicted wound,” while simultaneously expressing what it called “deep sympathy” for the embattled governor.

The carefully worded statement, released by the party’s national leadership late Monday night, reads as both a public condolence and a sharp political rebuke, marking the latest escalation in one of Nigeria’s most volatile power struggles.

Fubara’s dramatic switch from the PDP, the platform that brought him to power, to the ruling APC has stunned supporters, rivals, and political observers alike, especially given the bitter feud that has raged between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

For months, Rivers State has sat at the center of national attention, gripped by legislative warfare, court injunctions, attempts at impeachment, and fierce battles for control of the state’s political soul. Many had predicted reconciliation, others expected total political collapse. Very few foresaw a full defection to the very party many believed his crisis had been engineered to empower.

In its statement, the PDP made it clear that it considers Fubara’s decision not as a strategic escape but as a political tragedy of self-making. The party said it had watched with concern as the governor “walked steadily into isolation,” portraying his exit as an act driven more by pressure than conviction. By calling the move a “self-inflicted injury,” the PDP signaled that it believes Fubara abandoned not only the party structure that produced him but also millions of voters who invested hope in his leadership as a continuation of the PDP’s long hold on Rivers politics.

Yet in a twist that reveals just how complex and emotionally charged the situation has become, the PDP did not entirely slam the door on its former governor. Instead, it adopted a tone of sympathy, describing him as a man caught in an unforgiving political crossfire. The party expressed pity for what it called his “present political predicament,” noting that history would eventually judge whether his defection brought him peace or merely exchanged one storm for another.

Behind the measured language lies months of political bloodletting. Since assuming office, Fubara’s relationship with his political godfather, Wike, deteriorated rapidly and spectacularly. What began as quiet disagreements over loyalists and state appointments soon exploded into open warfare involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, security agencies, and multiple courtrooms. Lawmakers split into hostile factions. The Assembly complex was partially engulfed in fire. Impeachment threats loomed and retreated like dark clouds. The Presidency stepped in with peace talks that led to public handshakes that barely concealed private hostilities.

Against this backdrop, Fubara’s decision to cross over to the APC is being interpreted by many within the PDP as surrender rather than strategy. Party insiders believe the governor, hemmed in by relentless political pressure, chose what he saw as the only available shield, even if it meant burning the bridge he crossed into power with. For the PDP, however, the defection is being framed as political self-sabotage, a moment where survival instinct may have overridden long-term legacy.

APC leaders, on the other hand, have welcomed Fubara with open arms, hailing his move as proof that the ruling party’s influence continues to expand across key political territories. In Rivers State, where the PDP has traditionally maintained a strong grip for over two decades, the defection signals a potentially historic realignment of power. Analysts say the switch could reshape electoral calculations ahead of future governorship and legislative contests, especially if Fubara manages to consolidate APC structures around the machinery of state power.

But the PDP’s reaction suggests the opposition party is not ready to concede Rivers without a fight. By branding Fubara’s move as self-inflicted, the PDP is laying the groundwork for a broader political narrative that paints the governor not as a victor but as a casualty of desperation politics. Party loyalists argue that defecting under pressure rarely produces lasting political security, warning that governors who cross over during crises often find themselves politically stranded once the immediate turbulence passes.

Public reaction across Rivers State has been sharply divided. Some residents see the defection as an act of political realism, arguing that Fubara simply chose the path of least resistance in order to govern without constant obstruction. Others feel betrayed, insisting that he was elected under the PDP banner and should have resolved his internal battles without switching allegiance. On social media, supporters and critics continue to clash, with hashtags related to the defection trending as Nigerians debate whether survival or principles should define leadership in a ruthless political climate.

The PDP’s expression of sympathy also carries an unspoken political warning. By portraying Fubara as wounded rather than victorious, the party is positioning itself to reclaim moral authority among its base in Rivers. It is a subtle attempt to keep grassroots loyalty alive, even as the governor now works from inside the APC’s political fortress. It also serves as a message to other PDP governors navigating internal conflicts: defection may offer temporary refuge, but it comes at a long-term political cost.

For Fubara himself, the road ahead remains uncertain despite the apparent safety of his new political home. Rivers politics is notoriously unforgiving, shaped by deeply entrenched loyalties, rival power blocs, and a history of intense godfather-godson clashes. While the APC may offer him immediate protection from hostile lawmakers and impeachment threats, it also introduces new layers of expectation, negotiation, and internal competition within a party eager to dominate one of Nigeria’s most economically strategic states.

The Presidency’s stance on the defection has so far remained diplomatically neutral, focusing instead on sustaining calm and preventing Rivers from sliding back into legislative chaos. Security agencies continue to maintain a visible presence around key government facilities, underscoring how fragile the political peace remains even after the defection.

In the end, the PDP’s description of Fubara’s move as a “self-inflicted wound” may come to define this chapter of Rivers politics more than any celebratory defection rally. It frames the moment not as triumph but as a painful consequence of unresolved power struggles, bruised alliances, and political survivalism in its rawest form. Whether history will remember Siminalayi Fubara as a governor who tactically escaped a political siege or one who paid too high a price for momentary relief is a verdict still waiting in the shadows of Rivers’ turbulent political theatre.

For now, one truth is unavoidable: in the brutal chessboard of Nigerian politics, every move saves one king while placing another in check — and sometimes, the deepest wounds are the ones leaders carve with their own hands.