Defection: ‘You Willingly Travelled This Path, Don’t Blame Us,’ PDP Tells Fubara

Defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and PDP’s Response

The political landscape of Rivers State, Nigeria, witnessed a dramatic shift when Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move, made public during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, has sparked intense reactions and highlighted deeper issues within Nigeria’s democratic framework.

Governor Fubara explained that his decision was influenced by what he described as a lack of protection from his former party. He argued that the PDP failed to shield him during a prolonged political crisis, leaving him vulnerable and ultimately pushing him toward the ruling APC. His statement suggested that survival and political security were central to his choice.

The PDP, however, responded sharply, describing the defection as “pitiful.” In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party insisted that Fubara had “willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination.” The PDP rejected the governor’s claims of abandonment, stressing that he cannot accuse the party of failing to protect him after voluntarily choosing to leave.

The party reminded Nigerians that civil society groups and ordinary citizens had stood by Fubara during his political battles, and therefore he should have expressed gratitude rather than blame.

The PDP’s statement went further, warning against what it termed the “Stockholm Syndrome,” where victims develop sympathy for their oppressors. It expressed pity for the governor, while also cautioning that his defection symbolized the growing dysfunction in Nigeria’s democracy.

According to the party, the Rivers situation reflects a disturbing reality where individuals wield more power than institutions, using federal apparatus to suppress opponents and weaken democratic norms.

The PDP accused the APC of relentlessly pursuing a one-party state, arguing that such tendencies threaten Nigeria’s democratic survival. It called on Nigerians and the international community to resist what it described as “electoral authoritarianism.” The party emphasized that democracy is under severe attack and urged collective action to safeguard political pluralism.

Governor Fubara’s defection is not just a personal political decision; it is emblematic of broader tensions within Nigeria’s political system. It underscores the fragility of party loyalty, the dominance of individual interests over institutional strength, and the growing fear that democracy may be sliding toward authoritarian consolidation.

While the PDP has chosen to frame Fubara’s move as a voluntary betrayal, the governor insists it was a matter of survival. This clash of narratives reflects the deeper struggle for power and legitimacy in Nigeria’s democracy, raising critical questions about the future of political competition and institutional resilience in the country.