The internal crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated, with factional chairman Dr Robinson Ewoh publicly declaring support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Ewoh said his alignment with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr Nyesom Wike, was aimed at ensuring victory for Tinubu, following what he described as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s betrayal of the state PDP. He accused Fubara of deceiving the party by claiming he could wrest political control from Wike, only to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) midway through his tenure.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, Ewoh recalled that he had anticipated the governor’s defection late last year. “Wherever the governor goes, I will not follow him,” he said, emphasising that the mandate Fubara holds was given by the people of Rivers State and that all his actions and inactions affect the electorate.
Ewoh outlined a history of political tensions, noting that a disagreement between the governor and members of the State House of Assembly culminated in the bombing of the Assembly Chambers, which led to a peace pact brokered by President Tinubu. He criticised the governor for allegedly feeding party members propaganda and misleading information about his ability to wrest control from Wike.
During the period of Emergency Rule in the state, Ewoh said another peace pact was brokered by the President but, unlike the previous eight-point agreement, it was neither documented nor made public. The breakdown of this agreement, he claimed, precipitated Fubara’s defection to the APC in December 2025.
Ewoh further accused the governor of boasting that President Tinubu would compel members of the State House of Assembly to pass the budget and force Wike to support his re-election, rather than pursuing a path of reconciliation and smooth governance.
Highlighting Fubara’s absence from the PDP National Convention in Ibadan in November 2025, Ewoh criticised the governor for a “double standard,” noting that the Rivers State delegation, led by Ewoh himself, fully participated despite Fubara supervising preparations but failing to attend.
Ewoh also addressed remarks made by Minister Wike during visits to the state’s 23 local government areas, in which the minister reportedly accused Fubara of violating pre-Emergency Rule agreements. According to Ewoh, these included commitments not to seek a second term, reinstating key traditional and administrative officials, and making other administrative adjustments, none of which the governor honoured.
The factional chairman called on party members to continue supporting the PDP leadership aligned with Wike and emphasised that Rivers people deserve full disclosure on all agreements and political arrangements.
