The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the defection of 17 Rivers State House of Assembly members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as unfortunate but within constitutional bounds.
Lawmakers Announce Defection on Assembly Floor
The group of lawmakers, led by Rivers State Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule, formally declared their defection during plenary sessions at the state House of Assembly.
Amaewhule explained that internal divisions within the PDP influenced their decision.
He further stated that joining the APC would allow them to “join hands with Mr President,” whom he claimed “means well for the country.”
Defection Reduces PDP Presence
The defection has significantly reduced the PDP’s representation in the 26-member Assembly, leaving about nine or ten lawmakers still affiliated with the party.
The move comes amid ongoing political realignments in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike Describes Move as Unfortunate
Addressing journalists on Friday, December 5, after inspecting the construction of the interchange bridge linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa in Abuja, Wike said the defection was “unfortunate” but emphasized that lawmakers were within their constitutional rights.
In his words: “Well, it’s 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’s not everybody who 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.
“I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll 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.
“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.”
