Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by factional Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deep-seated divisions within the PDP.
Amaewhule announced the mass defection during plenary on Friday, declaring that he had formally notified his ward chairman of his departure from the PDP and had already aligned himself with the APC.
“APC is my new party,” he declared. “I will do all that is needed to ensure my APC membership card is issued without delay. I am happy to be a member of the APC so we can join forces with Mr President, who is doing so much for this country.”
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, insisting that the President “means well for Nigeria” and has shown “love to Rivers State.” According to him, supporting Tinubu from within the APC has now become the priority for the defecting lawmakers.
The defection comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, which escalated in late 2023 following a bitter fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Amaewhule leads the Wike-aligned faction, which had previously attempted to impeach the governor, deepening hostilities.
The crisis has triggered conflicting court rulings over the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, with different judgments at various times recognising either Amaewhule or Edison Ehie—now Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara—as Speaker.
Nationally, the PDP continues to battle internal fractures, including longstanding disputes involving Wike and the party’s leadership, further worsening cohesion within the opposition party.
The mass defection marks a significant turning point in the already tense political landscape of Rivers State, raising fresh questions about the future of the PDP in the region.
