Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has defended his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Fubara announced his defection to the APC on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In his address at the meeting, Governor Fubara stated that he had not received protection from his former party, which informed his decision to join the ruling party.

He credited President Bola Tinubu as the reason he is still standing as the governor of oil-rich Rivers State today, and said he would join the President’s party as a way of saying “thank you” for that protection.

“What you all have been waiting for, what you have been asking me—the signal has finally arrived. We have the full support; we have the positive nod to leave where we are because we didn’t get any protection to go to where we are going,” Fubara said.

“The reason why we are still standing is because of that place, and the truth is, without Mr. President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been former governor.

“So, we have every reason—because the truth is, let nobody be fooled in this state—we have the people, we have the supporters. Our only ‘thank you’ to Mr. President is to support him, and we cannot support the President in isolation; we cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him—not backyard support.

“So, we have taken that decision today, since we have gotten the pass. Everyone here who has followed me, who has suffered with me—our decision today, this evening—is that we are moving to the APC.”

Fubara’s defection comes just four days after the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 other lawmakers left the PDP for the APC on December 5.

The lawmakers attributed their departure from the PDP to the ongoing crisis within the party.

Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Report says Malami is being probed for 18 alleged offences, including money laundering, abuse of office, and terrorism financing.

The anti-graft agency is believed to have secured a remand order for his detention.

Sources privy to the investigation told TheCable that the former AGF is unable to account for the recovery of $346.2 million Abacha loot from Switzerland and funds from the Island of Jersey.

The investigation extends to the disbursement of N4 billion Anchor Borrowers’ Programme funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Malami is also being quizzed over his alleged N10bn investment in schools, hotels, and rice mills in Kebbi State.

According to TheCable, Malami failed to meet his bail conditions as of 11 pm on Tuesday, forcing him to spend a second night in detention.

An associate of the former minister had earlier informed the press that Malami was invited for questioning on Monday but arrived late in the evening, which resulted in him staying overnight to continue responding to investigators’ queries.

The associate also disclosed that 46 bank accounts allegedly linked to Malami are currently under investigation, forming a major part of the EFCC’s line of inquiry.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, declined to comment on the matter when contacted by TheCable.

The former AGF, in November 2025, declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi — months after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Ahmed Abubakar, for allegedly attempting to procure ammunition for bandits operating in Zamfara State.

Abubakar, reportedly from Gusau but residing in Anguwan Dodo, Gwagwalada, was picked up by operatives of the Mabushi Division on December 7, following what the police described as credible intelligence.

Security expert Zagazola Makama, in a post on X on Tuesday, stated that the suspect had allegedly contacted a serving soldier, Corporal Yusuf Mohammed, to help him source 1,000 rounds of ammunition, purportedly for bandit groups in Zamfara, in exchange for a cash reward.

“The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man suspected of attempting to procure ammunition for bandits operating in Zamfara State. Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, identified as Ahmed Abubakar of Gusau, Zamfara State, and currently residing at Anguwan Dodo, Gwagwalada, was arrested on December 7 at about 3:30 pm by operatives of the Mabushi Division following credible intelligence.

“Sources said the suspect had allegedly contacted a Nigerian Army personnel, Cpl Yusuf Mohammed, to help him procure 1,000 rounds of ammunition, which he claimed were meant for bandits in Zamfara for a monetary reward,” he wrote.

According to Makama, Abubakar reportedly confessed during interrogation that he was acting on the instructions of his uncle, one Ahmed Yakubu, who lives at the same address but is currently on the run.

Yakubu was said to have instructed him to buy the ammunition and transport it to Zamfara for use by bandits in their area.

Makama added that the police recovered N170,100 from the suspect, believed to be part of the funds intended for the illegal purchase.

“The Command said the suspect is currently in custody, undergoing further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to track down his fleeing accomplice,” he added.

The FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, could not be reached for comments, as calls to her telephone line were not answered. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The development comes amid recurring attacks and kidnappings carried out by bandits in the area.

It was reported in September that operatives of the Edo State Police Command arrested a 42-year-old man, Ogbole Henry, for alleged possession of arms and ammunition.