Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Port Harcourt, Nigeria — In a dramatic shift in the political landscape of Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Odu, the Deputy Governor, has formally resigned her membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening a wave of defections that have reshaped the state’s executive leadership ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Professor Odu completed her electronic registration with the APC on Sunday, 4 January 2026, at her polling unit in Akabuka, Ward 8, Unit 11, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA). Following the registration, she embarked on a tour of all six zones within ONELGA, urging residents to actively support the APC’s ongoing party registration exercise and encourage widespread mobilisation ahead of future elections.
Addressing party stakeholders and residents, the Deputy Governor said her decision to defect was motivated by the desire to strengthen grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who himself defected from the PDP to the APC in December 2025. Her comments highlighted the strong alignment between her political journey and that of Governor Fubara, whose earlier move followed strategic consultations at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and marked a pivotal realignment in Rivers politics.
Professor Odu’s defection reflects a broader pattern of political reconfiguration in the oil-rich state, where influential officeholders have been re-evaluating party affiliations after months of internal PDP tensions and a high-profile leadership contest involving prominent figures within the party. Sources note that Odu’s registration with the APC underscores a wider strategy to consolidate support for both the federal and state leadership under the ruling party’s banner.
During her tour of Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni zones, Odu appealed to communities to register en-masse with the APC, asserting that the large crowds she encountered demonstrated “growing acceptance” of the party. She emphasised that citizens said they were ready to follow both President Tinubu and Governor Fubara wherever they lead.
Political analysts say the decision of the deputy governor to join the APC shortly after her principal’s defection signals a significant consolidation of power within the state’s executive arm and could influence local electoral dynamics. By uniting the top two offices in Rivers State under one party umbrella, the APC is poised to wield greater influence ahead of the 2027 elections, potentially affecting legislative alignments and party structures at both state and federal levels.
In addition to her own defection, developments accompanying Odu’s move included the resignation of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, from the PDP. Although Anabraba did not immediately declare his next political affiliation, insiders suggest a likely alignment with the APC given the ongoing realignment of political forces in the state.
The shifts in Rivers State represent part of a broader national pattern of defections from the PDP to the APC, particularly among high-profile officeholders and political figures. This trend has drawn attention as Nigeria’s major parties prepare for competitive elections, with strategic repositioning underway to consolidate influence and build stronger support bases.
Supporters of Odu’s defection argue that consolidating political support behind the APC will enhance governance coherence and align state leadership with national policy priorities. Critics, however, contend that the wave of defections could weaken opposition structures and reduce political plurality within the state, raising questions about the long-term health of democratic competition.
As Rivers State’s political realignment continues to unfold, attention will remain sharply focused on how these developments shape future electoral strategies, governance partnerships and public expectations across the region.
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