By Ghazali Ibrahim
In a dramatic political shift, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, along with 16 other members of the Assembly, have formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The sweeping defection was announced during a plenary session on Friday.
Amaewhule said the move was driven by what he described as a “clear and irreconcilable division” within PDP that had made effective representation in the state difficult.
“It has become impossible for us to operate under a party where internal conflicts have stalled governance and undermined our ability to serve the people,” he said.
The mass decampment is a blow to the PDP, which has long held sway in Rivers State’s legislature, and it marks a major win for the APC, potentially shifting the balance of power in the state ahead of upcoming elections.
While the full list of defectors has not yet been publicly disclosed, media outlets report that the number of lawmakers who crossed over ranges from 16 to 17, depending on source.
Political analysts say the move could intensify the already tense rivalry between factions loyal to governor Siminalayi Fubara and those aligned with minister Nyesom Wike, the expelled PDP strongman whose influence in Rivers remains controversial.
As of now, the PDP has not issued an official response, and the legality of the defections is expected to be tested in court.
With this sweeping realignment, Rivers’ political landscape appears to be undergoing another seismic shift.
