• Speaker Martin Amaewhule leads mass defection from PDP to APC
• Defection signals major political shift ahead of 2027 elections
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• Moves reflect widening rift within PDP in Rivers State
Seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision, announced during plenary on Friday, represents a significant realignment in the state legislature, potentially altering the balance of power between factions loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
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On the floor of the House, Speaker Amaewhule stated that lawmakers had unanimously agreed to join the APC, citing “a clear and irreconcilable division” within the PDP as the reason for their departure.
“We can no longer remain in a party that has been deeply divided and no longer represents the ideals we stood for,” Amaewhule said. “In line with Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, we have chosen to align with the All Progressives Congress, which offers a united and progressive platform.”
The defection follows weeks of speculation amid tensions between the Wike-aligned camp and supporters of Governor Fubara, which have intensified since late 2023. Analysts suggest the move significantly strengthens the APC’s position in a legislature previously dominated by the PDP.
