Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has remained silent over yesterday’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) of 17 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
However, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, despite the recent announcement of his expulsion by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP, yesterday said he remains a member of the main opposition party. He also foreclosed defection to any political party, saying he remains a member of the PDP and has no intention of defecting with members of the House of Assembly to the APC.
Attempts by THISDAY to confirm if Governor Fubara would also leave the PDP were not successful as they did not respond to enquiries. Also, the Governor’s supporters declined to comment.
Following the current development, there was fear that there could be a renewed political crisis in the State as the lawmakers have shown that there could still not be a cordial relationship between the legislature and executive arms of government in the state.
However, the 17 lawmakers claimed that the reason for their defection was because of the division at the national level of the party, which has made the future of the party hazy and nebulous.
The Assembly members who recently made peace with Fubara, after a long political rift, had on Wednesday pledged their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.
The APC State chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, was also sighted at the Assembly chamber monitoring the defection process.
Those who defected to APC included Amaewhule; the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol; the Majority Leader, Major Jack; the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Somiari-Stewart; Chief Whip, Frankline Nwabuchi, and Deputy Whip, Ofiks Kabang.
Others included Hon. Peter Abbey, Smart Adoki, Igwe Aforji, Arnold Davids, Enemi George, Tekenari Granville, Christian Nwankwo, Gerald Oforji, Azeru Opara, Lolo Opuende, and Solomon Wami.
Commenting shortly after their defection, Amaewhule lauded Tinubu for his purposeful and exceptional leadership and pledged their support to the APC and the President.
The PDP, which is now the minority party in the House, also constituted their officers.
Those who took the oath of office included: Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo, as the Minority Leader; Hon. Barile Nwakoh, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. John Dominic Iderima, Minority Whip; and Hon. Justina Emeji, Deputy Minority Whip.
Speaking on the defection, Amaewhule, explained, “All the16 legislative members, including the Speaker, have so decided to leave the PDP to the APC. Distinguished colleagues, it is important to allow all the members who have so communicated to me to also reaffirm by addressing the House on this particular idea.
“Let me say that the reason for me leaving PDP is because of the clear division in the party today. The whole world is aware that as at today, even the national headquarters of PDP is not functioning as a result of this division.
“There are two factions in PDP, and the constitution is clear that when there is division in any political party, when the party’s divided, members, including Assembly members who no longer have hope, can leave the party without dire consequences.”
He added: “The foundation of this defection in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria that allows members to leave the party that elected them becomes clear that there is a division in PDP, and that is the reason for our joining the APC.”
Affirming the Speaker’s position for the defection, Somiari-Stewart, member representing Okrika Constituency, said, “I affirm what you have said, Mr. Speaker, that division in the PDP informed our defection to APC. I have informed my Ward chairman, and as I leave here, I will affect my membership at the ward level.”
Meanwhile, Majority Leader, Jack, drew the attention of the House to his earlier call, where the House urged Governor Fubara to forward his list of Commissioner nominees to the House for screening and confirmation in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Jack expressed dismay that to date the request has not been attended to, and alleging that the State is yet to have the complement of a full cabinet.
He described the continuous decision of the Governor to work with eight commissioners, excluding the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as a breach of the constitution
Amaewhule also faulted the delay by the Governor to present the list of commissioner nominees
The Speaker and Members of the Assembly, however, adjourned the sitting to January 25, 2026.
Wike Rules Out Defection from PDP, Says Rivers Lawmakers Free to Join APC
On the defection, Wike made his position clear yesterday when he was addressing the media during the inspection of the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road II to Ring Road III interchange bridge, linking Maitama, Gishiri and Jahi with Gwarimpa.
He described the defection as unfortunate, but assured that his camp would continue to work with other lawmakers who remained loyal to the party.
The minister also attributed the internal crisis rocking the PDP to the lawmakers’ defection, saying the party had failed to put its house in order.
In spite of the factionalisation of the PDP and his purported expulsion by the faction led by Taminu Turaki, Wike also insisted he remains a member of the PDP.
“I am still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we will continue to work together. And I have said to the party, ‘Put your house in order. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that will lose.
“And we still ask the party to work together to see how the remaining members will be a relevant opposition. But they chose not to. So, for me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together,” Wike said.
The minister also noted that although he was not informed by the lawmakers before their defection, they acted within their constitutional rights, considering the state of the party.
“At the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it is the party that is losing. Those who left are free, but those who have remained in the party, we will continue to work together.
“Well, it is unfortunate. I have always said that everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, they are allowed to leave the party.
“You will see that it is not everybody that has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right,” Wike explained.
He also dismissed rumours that made the rounds recently that he was arrested in France as politically orchestrated falsehoods aimed at distracting him from his duties.
He referenced previous false claims about his health and whereabouts, noting that such distractions had become routine.
Wike said: “Well, what is important is that you remain focused. As you said, they were the ones who were arrested. On Saturday, we were inspecting Kubwa Road. People would like to distract you. But the moment you are focused, you know what you are doing, you will not be perturbed.
“Last time they said I was sick and flown overseas. This time, they said I was arrested in France. I’m doing my job.
“When they carry these kinds of lies, at a point, people will no longer read the junk they tell. Critics will always try to play politics; critics will always not be happy that you are doing well. So just focus. Do not be distracted at all”.
Meanwhile, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Chizy Enyi, in his reaction to the development, described as regrettable the adjournment by the Assembly members, saying they just started sitting about three months ago after their return from the six months emergency rule.
Enyi, who is the President, Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership, questioned the motive behind the long adjournment when the National Assembly and other State Houses of Assembly that never experienced the emergency rule were still sitting.
Enyi, while accusing the lawmakers of division among them, claimed that the reason for the long recess may not be unconnected with the planned inauguration of the newly built Assembly Chamber and proposed presentation of the 2026 budget by Governor Fubara this month.
Speaking with Journalists in Port Harcourt, Enyi further accused the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly of “being interested in causing crisis and chasing shadows with reference to their complaint of the list of commissioners”, saying that the legislature wants to frustrate all developmental efforts that will move the state forward with their actions.
