Sixteen lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Amaewhule disclosed their defection during Friday’s plenary, stating that the move was prompted by what he called a “division” within the PDP.
He informed the House that he had officially notified his ward chairman of his departure from the PDP and had now joined the APC.
He declared, “Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time.
“But as I speak today, I am a member of the All Progressives Congress. I am happy to be a member of APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. Mr President is doing so much for this country.”
Amaewhule commended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and said the President “means well for Nigeria’’ and has demonstrated “love to Rivers State.”
He stated that backing the President from within the APC had become the lawmakers’ new focus, adding that the internal crisis within the PDP made staying in the party no longer viable.
Rivers State has been experiencing a prolonged political crisis since late 2023, involving a power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers aligned with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Amaewhule heads the faction believed to be loyal to Wike, and the Assembly has taken several steps — including an attempted impeachment — that have worsened tensions.
The conflict has also led to contradictory court rulings on the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, with varying judgments recognizing either Amaewhule or Edison Ehie (now Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara) as Speaker at different times.
At the national level, the PDP continues to struggle with internal divisions, including longstanding disagreements involving Wike and the party hierarchy.
The lawmakers’ claim of “division” within the PDP reflects a broader pattern of defections driven by the party’s unresolved internal disputes.
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