The political divide in Rivers State has resurfaced, as sixteen State House of Assembly members, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, only months after Governor Siminalayi Fubara was reinstated. During a plenary session on Friday, Speaker Mr Amaewhule, a strong ally of Nyesom Wike, announced
The political divide in Rivers State has resurfaced, as sixteen State House of Assembly members, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, only months after Governor Siminalayi Fubara was reinstated.
During a plenary session on Friday, Speaker Mr Amaewhule, a strong ally of Nyesom Wike, announced that he and fifteen other lawmakers have joined the national ruling party.
In his statement, he informed fellow legislators that the ongoing internal challenges within the PDP at the national level had prompted their decision. He also indicated that this course of action would facilitate collaboration with President Bola Tinubu and contribute to effective governance in the state, given the escalating crisis in the PDP. This announcement follows recent remarks by Mr Amaewhule, who criticised the state Governor for the declining condition of public schools.
The lawmakers who followed the speaker to the APC are: the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), Gerald Oforji (Oyigbo) and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
“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,” Amaewhule said.
“I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the APC is issued to me in no time. But as we speak today, I am a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr President.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing so much for this country. He means well for Nigeria. He is tackling the issue of security headlong. The president has shown love to Rivers State.
“The president is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country.”
However, ten lawmakers in the state still maintain their allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party, and they are Emilia Lucky-Amadi-Obio/Akpor, Justina Emeji-Emohua, Ignatius Onwuka-Etche1, Barile Nwakor, Ezekwe Nkemjika, Queen Owuma, Tony Williams, Lemchi Nyeche, Sylvanus Nwankwo, Iderima John Dominic, and Mgbar Bernard.
Last Defection Led to More Political Crisis in the State
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Martin Amaewhule has led a defection from the PDP. In December 2023, the speaker of the house and 26 other members of the PDP announced their defection from the PDP to the APC, a development which stemmed from the ongoing fracas between Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara.
The announcement of their defection triggered political and legal tension in Rivers state, with the PDP and a rival faction of the Assembly (led first by Edison Ehie and later by Victor Oko-Jumbo) declaring their seats vacant, in accordance with Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The political battle resulted in the burning of the state house of assembly complex and the subsequent passage of the 2024 budget by the other faction, which the Governor recognised, an action that was later delegitimised by the Court of Appeal in 2024.
The prolonged political and power struggle in Rivers State,, which began shortly after Governor Fubara took off and fell out with Nyesom Wike, eventually escalated to the point where President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspended the governor and legislature for six months, and appointed Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.
Governor Fubara and other elected officials, including the lawmakers, were reinstated in September after a truce had been reportedly reached among the aggrieved and agitated parties. Meanwhile, a few weeks before leaving office, the sole administrator organised local government elections in which the APC won in 20 councils, while the PDP won in three.
With the latest development, it is yet uncertain what the reactions of the state Governor would be, especially as the legislature appears to be in disagreement with some of his moves in recent times.
