The political landscape in Rivers State took a dramatic turn on Friday as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with 15 other lawmakers.
This mass exit marks one of the largest defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent years.
During Friday’s plenary session, Amaewhule cited the deepening crisis within the PDP as the reason for their departure, stating that the party’s internal conflicts had made it difficult for them to effectively represent their constituents.
The defectors include Dumle Maol, Deputy Speaker (Gokana); Major Jack (Akuku-Toru); Linda Stewart (Okrika); and others.
The defection has significantly altered the power dynamics in the Rivers State House of Assembly, with the APC now expected to take a dominant position in legislative decisions.
This shift, some political pundits say is likely to intensify the seemingly visible crack after the return from emergency rulein the state.
The PDP has yet to respond to the development, but political analysts view the defection as a strategic realignment ahead of future elections, potentially strengthening the APC’s hold on Rivers State, a key battleground in Nigerian politics.
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