By Charles Pemu 
The political crisis gripping Rivers State has intensified following the defection of sixteen members of the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker Amaewhule formally announced the lawmakers’ decision during Friday’s plenary session, citing a “clear division” within the PDP as the primary reason for their dramatic party switch.
In a direct address to his colleagues, Amaewhule stated, “Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided, and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision, to leave the PDP. APC is my new party.”
The mass defection includes the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, and fourteen other legislators. All sixteen lawmakers who abandoned the PDP are recognized as core loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
This move is seen as a direct escalation of the ongoing political friction in the state. Notably, Minister Wike was recently expelled from the PDP by the party’s leadership over alleged anti-party activities, providing context for the current exodus.
It is also significant that this is not the first time these specific state lawmakers have been associated with an impending defection; they had previously announced a similar move to the APC during the initial stages of the state’s political turmoil, although they subsequently walked back that decision.
The official declaration on the floor of the House now confirms the transfer of allegiance, further reshaping the legislative balance of power in Rivers State.