Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal divisions within the PDP.
Amaewhule announced the decision during plenary on Friday, telling colleagues he had already informed his ward chairman of his departure from the PDP and completed his move to the APC.
“Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I am happy to be a member of the APC so we can join forces with Mr President. Mr President is doing so much for this country,” he said, adding that the lawmakers intend to support President Bola Tinubu from within the ruling party.
He praised the President’s leadership, saying Tinubu “means well for Nigeria” and has shown “love to Rivers State.”
The defection marks a major shift in the state’s ongoing political crisis. Since late 2023, Rivers politics has been dominated by a bitter power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers aligned with his predecessor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Amaewhule leads the faction loyal to Wike, and the Assembly’s actions — including an attempted impeachment of the governor — have intensified the state’s instability.
The legal landscape has been equally turbulent, with conflicting court judgments alternately recognising either Amaewhule or Edison Ehie — now Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara — as Speaker.
At the national level, the PDP continues to navigate internal disputes, including longstanding tensions involving Wike and the party leadership. Friday’s mass defection adds to a pattern of political realignments linked to unresolved divisions within the party.
More details to follow…
