27 Rivers State Assembly Members Defect from PDP to APC Amidst Political Turmoil
In a startling development, 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.
Confirmation of the mass defection came from Enemi George, a member of the Assembly, during an interview with Channels Television.
George revealed that the decision to switch party allegiance was unanimously reached during the Assembly’s session on Monday morning, under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule.
The political drama in Rivers State has been unfolding for weeks, with Amaewhule and another Assembly member, Edison Ehie, embroiled in a tussle for the Speakership.
Amaewhule is perceived to be loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike, while Ehie aligns with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The power struggle escalated in October when the Assembly, under Amaewhule’s leadership, served an impeachment notice on Governor Fubara and removed Ehie as the House leader.
Subsequently, members loyal to Fubara swiftly impeached Amaewhule, appointing Ehie as the new Speaker.
The genesis of the crisis traces back to a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Despite public appearances suggesting a resolution between the two politicians, the Assembly’s recent defection from the PDP to the APC adds a new layer of complexity to the state’s political dynamics.
The defection might trigger further drama in Rivers State’s political arena, as the allegiances and power struggles continue to unfold.
In an earlier development, some political figures from other parties announced their defection to the PDP over the weekend. Notable among them were Patricia Ogbonnaya, the deputy governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, and Karibo Wilson, former Ahoada-West Chairman.
They, along with their supporters and other party executives, joined the PDP faction aligned with Governor Fubara.
The announcement of these political realignments suggests a dynamic and fluid political environment in Rivers State, with more developments likely to shape the course of the state’s politics in the coming weeks.