PORTHARCOURT: A major political shake-up has hit Rivers State as 16 members of the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made during plenary on Friday.
According to Amaewhule, the lawmakers left the PDP due to what he called deep divisions within the party. He revealed that he has already informed his ward chairman of his resignation and completed his move to the APC.
He said:
APC is my new party. I am happy to join forces with Mr President. President Tinubu is doing so much for this country and has shown love to Rivers State.
Amaewhule stated that the lawmakers now believe they can better support the President from inside the APC, adding that the internal crises in the PDP made it impossible to remain.
This development comes amid the long-running political feud in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Amaewhule, seen as leader of the Wike-aligned faction, has been at the centre of several controversies including attempted impeachment moves, and conflicting court rulings over who is the legitimate Speaker between him and Edison Ehie, now Chief of Staff to the Governor.
The defections are the latest fallout from the PDP’s unresolved internal battles, both in Rivers and nationally.
