Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has dismissed speculations that he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Wednesday, Fubara reaffirmed his membership in the APC, calling reports of his defection false.
Media reports had emerged suggesting that the APC screening committee rejected Fubara during a screening exercise for party service governors, and that he left the venue angrily without addressing journalists. Reacting, Fubara said: “I know that there have been a lot of drama in the media; one story or another. I am a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and nothing has changed. People should stop using whatever situation they pick up from social media or their own interpretation of events to misrepresent me.”
The governor spoke during an inspection tour of the newly constructed General Hospital and the remodeled Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. He was conducted through the facilities by Dr Vincent Wachukwu, Director of Medical Services in the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
Fubara expressed satisfaction with the completion of the projects, describing them as strategic interventions to address critical healthcare needs. He noted that the rehabilitation of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital followed concerns over mental healthcare services, while the General Hospital was built because residents lacked nearby medical facilities.
“This project became necessary after we discovered that the area had more healthcare challenges beyond mental health concerns. We realized there was no General Hospital to serve the people in this axis,” Fubara said. “The nearest facility available to them was the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), which is quite far from here.”
He added that the projects would improve access to quality healthcare for neighboring communities, including Rumuola, Rumuolumeni, and adjoining areas. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor reiterated his administration's commitment to projects that directly impact the welfare of the people.
