Rivers political crisis latest: 27 PDP lawmakers loyal to ex-Gov. Wike defect to APC

The lingering political crisis in Rivers State took a new dramatic turn on Monday with 27 members of the 32-member Rivers State House of Assembly defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a report reaching Persecondnews, the decision was taken at plenary session on Monday morning.

Former Gov. Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and his successor, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, have been at daggers drawn over the control of political structure in the state.

Wike had in a recent interview said he hated who he called ingrates and would not compromise any attempt to tamper with the political structure in the state.

In October, the Rivers House of Assembly was torched in the height of speculations to impeach the governor.

A lawmaker, Mr Enemi George, confirmed that the 27 lawmakers were under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule and have defected to APC.

For weeks, Amaewhule and another member, Edison Ehie, have been embroiled in a speakership tussle with Amaewhule believed to be loyal to ex-governor Wike while Ehie is in the camp of Gov. Fubara.

The Assembly under Amaewhule had in October served an impeachment notice on the governor and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, some members of the Assembly loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and made Ehie the new Speaker.

Though the two politicians have both attended same public events in the last few weeks and all seemed to have been settled but with Monday’s defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, more drama might unfold in the state.

Meanwhile, some political players from other parties over the weekend announced their defection to the PDP.

Leading the defectors from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the APC were the deputy governorship candidate of the SDP in the 2023 election, Patricia Ogbonnaya; and former Ahoada-West Chairman, Karibo Wilson.

They decamped alongside their supporters and other party excos.

The politicians dumped their former parties to pitch tent with the PDP group loyal to Fubara.

Also in attendance were some of the Ehie-led group of lawmakers, with the member representing Ahoada West, Goodboy Sokari representing the governor alongside Oko Jumbo from Bonny Constituency.