Seventeen members of the Rivers Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress, including the speaker of the house have stated reasons for their defection.
The defected Rivers assembly members cited the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the reason for their decision.
During plenary, Speaker of the House Martin Amaewhule—who also defected—announced the news. However, the PDP still has ten members.
This defection excludes three lawmakers who, at the peak of the political crisis in the state, stayed loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The three lawmakers have not attended any sitting since the last peace deal and the suspension of the emergency rule in the state.
Tony Okocha, the APC’s Rivers State factional chairman, was in the room to formally welcome the lawmakers who had defected.
According to reports, the Rivers Assembly members had previously declared their intention to desert to the APC. 27 MPs announced their defection to the ruling party on December 11, 2023, at the height of the state’s political unrest.
Later, they disputed the action, saying that rumours of their defection on television were created by artificial intelligence.
After the then-factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, declared their seats empty, a lawsuit pertaining to the purported defection made its way to the Supreme Court.
In the end, the court decided in favour of the lawmakers, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support their defection.
The defected members include;
Speaker Martin Amaewhule (Obio-Akpor I), Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt III), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt II), Enemi George (Asari-Toru II), Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt I), Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru I), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru II), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), Ofiks Kabang (Andoni), and Gerald Oforji (Oyigbo).
Speaking on the defection, Speaker of the house, 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 required to ensure that the membership 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 head-on.
“The President has shown love to Rivers State; he is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country.
“I am delighted to be part of the APC so we can support the President from within the All Progressives Congress.”
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