BREAKING: Rivers SSG Benibo Anabraba Dumps PDP, Aligns With Governor Fubara in APC

Political realignments in Rivers State took a fresh turn on Monday as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Benibo Anabraba, formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further deepening the crisis rocking the state’s political landscape.

Dr. Anabraba’s resignation was conveyed in a letter dated January 5, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in Ward 1, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. In the letter, the SSG described his decision to leave the main opposition party as a “personal” one, bringing an end to his long-standing association with the PDP.

“I write to formally inform you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately,” the letter read in part. Anabraba also expressed gratitude to the party, acknowledging the role it played in his political journey and the opportunities it afforded him over the years.

“I sincerely appreciate the political leverage gained from the party during the period of my membership,” he stated, a remark that suggests an attempt to exit without overt hostility, despite the tense political atmosphere in the state.

Although the resignation letter did not explicitly mention his next political destination, strong indications from party sources and government circles suggest that Anabraba has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), aligning himself with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently defected from the PDP.

Anabraba’s defection is the latest in a growing wave of high-profile exits from the PDP in Rivers State since Governor Fubara dumped the party. Several commissioners, aides, and party stalwarts are reported to have followed the governor to the APC, significantly weakening the PDP’s structure in the state.

Observers say the SSG’s move is particularly symbolic, given his strategic position at the heart of the state’s administration. As Secretary to the State Government, Anabraba plays a key coordinating role between the executive arm and other government institutions, making his political loyalty a matter of considerable interest.

The development comes amid a renewed political face-off between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Once a close political ally and mentor, Wike and Fubara have since fallen out, plunging Rivers State into months of political tension, legal battles, and partisan divisions.

The rivalry has largely shaped recent political movements in the state, with both camps maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections. Governor Fubara’s defection to the APC is widely seen as a strategic move aimed at securing a viable platform to pursue a second term. The governor’s supporters argue that aligning with the ruling party at the federal level strengthens his chances of returning to Government House in 2027.

However, Wike has made it clear that he will oppose Fubara’s re-election bid, regardless of party affiliation. The former Rivers governor, now a powerful figure in the APC-led federal government, has repeatedly vowed to block what he describes as Fubara’s “political ambition,” setting the stage for a fierce contest.

Political analysts say Anabraba’s defection underscores the growing consolidation of forces around Governor Fubara within the APC. It also reflects a broader recalibration of loyalties among Rivers politicians who are weighing their prospects in light of shifting power dynamics at both the state and national levels.

Within the PDP, Anabraba’s exit is being viewed as another major setback. Party insiders admit that the PDP in Rivers is grappling with internal disarray, as the prolonged conflict between Wike and Fubara continues to fracture its base. Efforts at reconciliation have so far yielded little result, with both sides maintaining hardline positions.

As the political drama unfolds, Rivers State appears set for another round of intense political battles. With key figures defecting, alliances being reshaped, and 2027 already casting a long shadow, the state remains a flashpoint in Nigeria’s evolving political contest.

For now, Dr. Benibo Anabraba’s move to the APC adds momentum to Governor Fubara’s camp, while signaling that the struggle for control of Rivers State politics is far from over.