Political Earthquake in Rivers: 27 of 32 Lawmakers Defect from PDP to APC Amidst Crisis

In a surprising turn of events, 27 Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have formally announced their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the state.

The lawmakers, including the factional Speaker, Rt. Hon. Matthew Amaewhule, made their announcement through a letter read on the Assembly floor on Monday. It is widely believed that these legislators are aligned with the former governor of the state and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Confirming the mass defection, Enemi George, a member of the Assembly, revealed to journalists that the decision was made during their Monday morning session, with Martin Amaewhule providing guidance to the lawmakers in this strategic move.

The core reason cited in the letter addressed to the state’s acting chairman of PDP for their departure from the party is the perceived division within the national leadership of the PDP. This development comes after weeks of intense rivalry between Martin Amaewhule and Edison Ehie over the position of Speaker in the Assembly.

The rift escalated in October when the Assembly issued an impeachment notice to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing leadership issues with Amaewhule. Subsequently, Ehie was ousted from the position of House leader, but in a swift counter-move, Fubara’s loyal Assembly members impeached Amaewhule and appointed Ehie as the new Speaker.

The root cause of the crisis can be traced back to a dispute between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which has permeated the 32-member Assembly. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Wike might be orchestrating the impeachment plot against Fubara due to their strained relationship. Both Wike and Fubara belong to the PDP, and the Assembly had previously threatened to impeach the governor.

Responding to these allegations, Wike acknowledged the internal wranglings within the party but emphasized that such issues would be resolved through the party’s mechanisms. He noted, “In politics, there are a lot of internal wranglings. But to come out and say, ‘Oh they want to do this against me, it will not work.’ I had every power then to say where this thing is going. So, when things are wrong, you ask questions. It is a party affair. The party knows how they resolve their mechanism; it is not an ethnic affair. Our party is coming to it, that is what I will say. Every politician has his interest,” shedding light on the intricate dynamics at play.

As the political landscape in Rivers State undergoes this significant shift, the implications for governance, party dynamics, and the overall stability of the region remain uncertain. The fallout from this defection is likely to reverberate through future political decisions and could reshape the power dynamics within the state.