Four members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers are Manuchim Umezuruike (Port Harcourt I Federal Constituency), Boniface Emerengwa (Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency), Awate-Inombek Abiante (Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency), and Boma Goodhead (Asari-Toru Federal Constituency).
The defecting legislators are reported to be loyal to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who also joined the APC last week.
Explaining his decision to leave the PDP, Governor Fubara said his move was aimed at supporting President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the President’s backing was instrumental to his political survival.
According to Fubara, continued support for President Tinubu could not be done “in isolation” or from the background, adding that fully identifying with the APC was necessary. He noted that those who stood by him through political challenges would also move with him to the ruling party.
Fubara’s defection followed closely on the heels of a major political shift in the state legislature, where the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside 17 other lawmakers, defected from the PDP to the APC on December 5.
The lawmakers cited the lingering crisis within the PDP as the primary reason for their departure. Among those who also left the party were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, and several other members representing constituencies across the state.
The wave of defections marks a significant realignment of political forces in Rivers State, further strengthening the APC’s presence in the state’s political landscape.
