Rivers Assembly Speaker, 15 lawmakers defect from PDP to APC

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside 15 other lawmakers.

The defecting members cited deep divisions within the PDP as the driving force behind their move.

Among those who left with Amaewhule were 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), Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1), and others.

The defections come in the wake of a protracted crisis within the state’s PDP, which escalated into clashes between lawmakers and Governor Sim Fubara.

Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State Assembly.

The political turbulence also included partial demolition of the State Assembly complex and attempts by lawmakers aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Fubara.

Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, the PDP had maintained firm control of Rivers State, but ongoing internal disputes have now weakened the party’s dominance.