In a dramatic turn of events, 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The move, announced during plenary on Friday, is seen as a significant escalation in the protracted political turmoil in Rivers State and a major blow to the PDP.
The defection was driven by what Amaewhule described as a “clear division” within the PDP, and is believed to be a strategic move by former Governor Nyesom Wike to reassert his relevance to President Bola Tinubu.
Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has been facing mounting pressure from domestic and international stakeholders, and has been struggling to maintain his influence within the PDP.
The lawmakers praised Tinubu’s appointments of Rivers indigenes into key federal positions and cited federal projects in the state, including the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road.
They also resolved to support the President and mobilise constituents for his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, sources close to the Presidency suggest that Wike’s efforts to shore up his standing with Tinubu have been unsuccessful, and that the President is under pressure from the United States government and other stakeholders to distance himself from Wike.
The defection has sparked concerns about the stability of the PDP and the future of politics in Rivers State, and has further intensified the ongoing power struggle within the party.
