Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Amaewhule announced the move during Friday’s plenary, citing what he described as a “clear division” within the PDP.
“Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided, and has indeed written to my ward chairman, of my decision to leave the PDP. APC is my new party”, he said.
Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, also defected, alongside 14 other lawmakers, all known loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who was recently expelled from the PDP over alleged anti-party activities.
Since late 2023, Rivers State has been engulfed in a prolonged political rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers loyal to Wike. Amaewhule leads the faction aligned with the former governor, and the Assembly has taken several contentious steps, including an attempted impeachment, which deepened tensions across the state.
The crisis has also produced conflicting court rulings on the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led Assembly. At various times, different courts have recognised either Amaewhule or Edison Ehie, now Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara as Speaker.
At the national level, the PDP continues to struggle with internal fractures, many linked to longstanding disputes involving Wike and the party leadership. The lawmakers’ reference to “division” within the PDP reflects broader cracks that have fuelled defections and shifting political alignments.
The Rivers lawmakers had previously signalled plans to move to the APC during the height of the political crisis but later denied doing so.
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