Sim Fubara’s withdrawal from the APC governorship primary in Rivers State has sparked renewed political analysis, with policy expert Prof Simon Nnah asserting that the governor was deceived and manipulated into defecting to the All Progressives Congress under false promises of support for a second term. Nnah, speaking with News Central, described the move as a survival strategy driven by threats of impeachment and political instability, rather than a genuine shift in allegiance. He emphasized that Fubara’s decision to join the APC was motivated by the need for protection, especially after the state government declared a state of emergency and opposition forces remained active against him.
Fubara officially announced his withdrawal from the APC governorship race on Wednesday night, stating that his decision was not born of weakness or fear, but a deliberate choice to prioritize peace in Rivers State. However, Nnah revealed that the governor was lured into the APC with the “euphoria that he is the 001” — a term suggesting he was the party’s top candidate — which turned out to be a calculated deception. According to the analyst, the APC has long used the Electoral Act to trap defectors, making it nearly impossible for them to switch parties again once they submit their registration to INEC. This legal barrier, Nnah argued, ensures that politicians who join the APC remain locked in, even if their original support base or aspirations are ignored.
Nnah further explained that Fubara’s stay in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have exposed him to greater political risks, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment on the state’s governance crisis. He noted that the governor had tried to maintain peace by presenting his budget to the state house, but his efforts were repeatedly blocked. “At the end of the day, you will not blame Fubara for so much because he tried to make peace with the house but they refused,” Nnah said, highlighting the governor’s attempts to navigate a hostile political environment.
Despite the current setback, Nnah warned that Fubara should not be underestimated. “Sim Fubara you might think that he doesn’t know what he is doing but such people are very dangerous because you don’t know what is in his mind,” he cautioned. He described the governor as a quiet but strategic figure who rarely speaks publicly but makes calculated moves. “He doesn’t always speak, he just drops one or two words and goes back to his shell; such people are very dangerous, fear them,” Nnah added.
As Rivers State continues to grapple with political uncertainty, the fallout from Fubara’s APC exit may reshape the state’s political landscape. The APC’s internal dynamics and its ability to manage defections will be closely watched, with analysts predicting potential fractures within the party. Fubara’s next moves remain unpredictable, but one thing is clear: his political journey is far from over.
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