Rivers State House of Assembly Witnesses Dramatic Defection as 27 Members Join APC

In a bold move within the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, 27 members, led by the factional Speaker Martins Amaewhule, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.

Amaewhule asserts that the defection adhered to constitutional provisions and was prompted by the internal divisions within the PDP.

During the APC thanksgiving/dedication service at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, New GRA Port Harcourt, Amaewhule addressed party members, stating, “We defected inside the hallowed chamber in line with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

We ensured due process, staying within the constitutional framework, specifically Section 109, Sub-section 1g, which permits legislators to defect in the case of a party division.”

Amaewhule highlighted the perceived division within the PDP as the catalyst for their shift to the APC, citing admiration for President Bola Tinubu’s achievements and leadership style.

Responding to social media speculations about the legality of the defection, Amaewhule clarified, “The Constitution has given room for people to defect, and we adhered to it.

There is clearly a division in the PDP, so in line with that section, we defected to the All Progressives Congress.”

Despite a court order restraining him from the position of Speaker, Amaewhule maintained that his faction constitutes the authentic Rivers State House of Assembly, asserting their numerical strength.

Amaewhule, aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, criticized the opposing faction led by Edison Ehie, dismissing their sittings as “a meeting of four friends in a beer parlor.”

This political upheaval unfolded last Monday when 27 lawmakers defected, a move contested by the current Speaker, Edison Ehie, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who declared their seats vacant.

The State House of Assembly now stands at the center of a political tug-of-war, highlighting the dynamic landscape of Rivers State politics.