Another significant blow has hit the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, as the state’s Secretary to the Government, Benibo Anabraba, resigned his membership.
Anabraba, who was appointed SSG by Governor Siminalayi Fubara in October 2025, announced his resignation in a letter dated 5 January 2026. The letter was addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ward 1, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
He described his decision to leave the party as personal and expressed appreciation for the political opportunities gained during his membership.
While Anabraba did not disclose his next political move, unnamed sources indicated he may join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
If Anabraba joins the APC, he will align with Fubara, several state lawmakers, and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, who defected from the PDP to the APC.
Odu on Sunday registered as an APC member at Ward 8, Unit 11, Akabuka town, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, openly declaring her support for President Bola Tinubu by singing “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,” a song closely associated with the President.
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Odu’s defection came weeks after Governor Fubara also left the PDP for the APC, following a meeting with Tinubu in which he pledged his support for the President and vowed to work for his re-election.
Following his defection, Fubara collected his APC membership card from Tony Okocha, the party’s Rivers State chairman, who said he acted on instructions from the APC national secretariat. Okocha revealed that the directive came from Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC National Chairman.
After receiving his membership card, Fubara declared himself the number one party leader in Rivers State. However, this declaration drew criticism from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s predecessor, who argued that defection alone did not automatically confer party leadership.
Yilwatda later clarified that Fubara was not yet the party’s leader in the state. He explained that the APC constitution stipulates that governors of APC-controlled states automatically serve as party leaders in their respective states, while also respecting the principle of inclusion by engaging all stakeholders.
