Why we defected to APC – Rivers Assembly members

Seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, have cited the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the reason for their decision.

The lawmakers announced their defection on Friday.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, who also defected, disclosed the development during plenary.

Ten other members remain in the PDP.

This excludes three lawmakers who, at the peak of the political crisis in the state, stayed loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The three lawmakers have not attended any sitting since the last peace deal and the suspension of the emergency rule in the state.

Their political stance remain unknown.

Factional Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, was present in the chamber to formally receive the defecting lawmakers.

recalls that this is not the first time members of the Assembly have announced their defection to the APC.

On December 11, 2023, at the height of the state’s political turmoil, 27 lawmakers declared their defection to the ruling party.

They later denied the move, claiming that televised reports of their defection were AI-generated.