In a significant political upheaval in Rivers State, 16 members of the State House of Assembly, including the esteemed Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, have formally announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This pivotal announcement was made during a plenary session on Friday, marking a substantial shift in the legislative landscape of the state. The defection is poised to profoundly reconfigure the balance of power between the factions loyal to the incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Addressing the House, Speaker Amaewhule elucidated the rationale behind this collective decision, asserting that the lawmakers had reached a unanimous consensus to join the APC. He cited what he characterized as an “unmistakable and irreconcilable division” within the PDP as the fundamental impetus for their departure. “We find ourselves unable to continue our allegiance to a party that has become profoundly fragmented and no longer embodies the principles and ideals we have historically championed,” Amaewhule stated firmly. He further elaborated, “In strict adherence to the provisions of Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, we have collectively opted to align ourselves with the All Progressives Congress, which presents a unified and progressive platform.”

This defection culminates weeks of intense speculation that had permeated the state’s political discourse, largely fueled by the progressively widening chasm between the warring factions within Rivers State's political establishment. More specifically, it solidifies the strategic position of the lawmakers who have consistently demonstrated loyalty to Minister Nyesom Wike, a group that has been engaged in an intense political struggle with Governor Fubara since the latter part of 2023. As a direct consequence of this development, the All Progressives Congress is now strategically positioned to secure a formidable presence and a significant foothold within the Rivers State House of Assembly, a legislative body that was previously under the overwhelming dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party.