The Rivers State political landscape was rocked by a major realignment today as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, and 15 other lawmakers formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers said they dumped the PDP for the APC over the crisis bedevilling the main opposition party at the national level.
Speaker Amaewhule, announcing the decision during a plenary session stated the division within the PDP was too deep to ignore.
“The major reason for leaving the PDP is because of the division in the PDP,” Amaewhule, who represents Obio-Akpor I constituency, told the lawmakers on Friday.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for some programmes embarked upon by his administration that have benefited Nigerians, especially Rivers people.
According to the Speaker, his defection would enable him to partner with President Tinubu for the overall good of the Rivers people.
Amaewhule said: “Distinguished colleagues, let me happily announce to honourable members that your Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my Ward Chairman, Mr Osondo Orlu, of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.
“APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time. I am happy to be a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. He is doing so much for this country.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He is tackling issues of security headlong. The President has shown love to Rivers State; he is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country. I am so delighted to be part of the APC so we can support the President right inside the All Progressives Congress.”
Others who dumped the PDP were 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), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
With the defection, the APC has 17 members at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
After the lawmakers dumped the PDP for the APC, the 10 remaining members of the PDP in the House appointed Sylvanus Nwankwo of Omuma constituency as Minority Leader.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the defection comes in yet another state that has been controlled by the PDP since 1999.
The defection also comes after the protracted political crisis that has rocked the state, which pitched the lawmakers against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state.
The crisis led to the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex by forces allegedly loyal to Fubara as well as the attempted moves to impeach the governor by the lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Following the escalation of the crisis, Tinubu waded in, declaring a state of emergency on March 18.
The emergency declaration led to the suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the lawmakers.
At the expiration of the exercise, he reinstated Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers on September 17, 2025.
