Fresh political realignments in Rivers State are reshaping power calculations within the All Progressives Congress (APC), as lawmakers who recently defected to the party are reportedly struggling to secure their political future.
Sources familiar with the development say the defecting legislators had initially relied heavily on support from influential figures in Abuja, believing they would be guaranteed automatic tickets in future elections. That expectation, however, is now said to be fading as internal party dynamics continue to shift.
At the centre of the evolving situation is the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, who is reportedly playing a key role in realigning political interests within the party.
Insiders say his positioning is increasingly in sync with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, a development that is weakening the influence some lawmakers had hoped to draw from federal connections.
According to party sources, the earlier reliance on “Abuja backing” is no longer as effective, as decision-making influence appears to be shifting closer to the state level.
“The route has changed,” one source said. “What used to go through Abuja now goes directly to Government House in Port Harcourt.”
This shift is reportedly forcing the affected lawmakers to reconsider their political strategy, with growing indications that reconciliation with the state governor may now be their most realistic option for survival ahead of the next election cycle.
The development also reflects a broader recalibration within the APC, where internal state-level alliances are increasingly shaping political outcomes over traditional federal influence structures.
