27 Out of 32 Rivers State Legislators Defect From PDP to APC Today

Today, 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members announced their defection from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC). This comes in as the rift between Fubara and Wike continues. 

The defected lawmakers are said to be loyalists of Nyesom Wike, the former governor of the state and the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Congress has 32 sitting representatives who have authority over 32 state constituents. Still, with the number of defectors witnessed this morning, it seems the PDP is losing its hold on the ‘Rivers’ valley.

The list of lawmakers will be updated very soon, along with the constituencies they represent. Among the lawmakers who were defeated was the factional Speaker, Rt. Hon. Matthew Amaewhule who made his announcement in a letter and read it on the floor of the Assembly on Monday.

Adding to that, Enemi George, a member of the Assembly, told news correspondents present at the venue that a total of 27 legislators have defected from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) under the guidance of Martin Amaewhule.

He said that the decision was taken during their meeting on Monday morning. In the letter signed by all 27 lawmakers and addressed to the state’s acting chairman of the PDP, the defectors attribute their decision to quit the PDP to the division within the party’s national leadership.

It was reported that Amaewhule and Edison Ehie have been in a speakership rivalry.

In October, the Assembly issued an impeachment notice to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing Amaewhule’s leadership.

Consequently, they ousted Ehie from the position of House leader. However, Fubara’s loyal Assembly members swiftly impeached Amaewhule, appointing Ehie as the new Speaker.

Also, the fight between Wike and Fubara triggered the crisis in the 32-member Assembly. On Fubara and Wike issues, many have accused the FCT Minister of being behind the impeachment plan against Fubara.

Wike and Fubara are of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). But Wike noted that internal wranglings are common in politics and will be settled using the party’s mechanisms.

He said, 

• In politics, there are a lot of internal wranglings.

• But to come out and say, ‘Oh, they want to do this against me, it will not work.’ I had every power then to say where this thing is going. So, when things are wrong, you ask questions. It is a party affair. The party knows how they resolve their mechanism; it is not an ethnic affair.

• Our party is coming to it, that is what I will say. Every politician has their interest.