The Peoples Democratic Part(PDP) in Rivers state has strongly condemned the defection of 17 Rivers State lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress, describing their action as reckless and an act of betrayal carried out at a critical moment for the state’s democracy.
In an interview with reporters, PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong claimed that the lawmakers had presented themselves as “enemies of democracy by abandoning the platform through which they were elected.”
He charged them with subverting the Rivers people’s mandate and creating instability in the legislature for political purposes.
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During a plenary on Friday, seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, defected from the PDP to the APC, citing what he called a “division” inside the PDP.
He said, “Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the APC is issued to me in no time. But as I speak today, I am a member of the APC. I am happy to be a member of APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. Mr President is doing so much for this country.
“As of today, even the national headquarters of the PDP is not functioning as a result of this division. There are two factions, and the constitution is clear that when there is a division in any political party, when the party is divided, members including Assembly members who no longer have hope can leave the party without any consequences.
“That is why I had to make this clear, that the foundation for this defection is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ememobong, however, stated that the development was not unexpected, pointing out that they only switched back to APC.
He stated, “This is a case of re-defection; they had previously defected then later denied it. The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made a mockery of the legislature.
“So, the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC.”
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The Speaker referred to Fubara’s tardiness in presenting the list of commissioners’ nominees for screening as a constitutional violation during the House’s Friday plenary. The House postponed its plenary till January 26, 2026.
The House has reiterated its decision to designate the legislative quarters auditorium as its sacred chamber, according to a statement subsequently released by Speaker Martins Wachukwu’s media assistant.
Speaking on the motion, Amaewhule called on the pertinent security services to maintain providing security for the Assembly quarters so that the House could carry out its constitutional duties. He said that the people, not the building, are what define an Assembly.
The statement added, “Still on Friday, 17 members of the House who were elected into the House under the umbrella of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, defected to the APC.
“The reason given for the defection, as individually affirmed, was predicated on the division in the party at the national level, which has made the future of the party hazy and nebulous.”
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