A major political realignment has shaken Rivers State after Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, his deputy, Dumle Maol, and 14 other lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker announced the mass defection during Friday’s plenary, declaring he had formally notified his PDP ward chairman before switching allegiance to the APC. He attributed the move to what he described as a “clear division” within the PDP.
“Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided… to leave the PDP. APC is my new party,” Amaewhule told the chamber, confirming weeks of speculation surrounding his political future.
The 16 defecting lawmakers are all known loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who was recently expelled from the PDP over alleged anti-party activities. Their departure further intensifies the long-running political tension in Rivers State.
The developments mark a significant shift in the state’s power dynamics, especially as the lawmakers had previously been linked to the APC at the height of the state’s political crisis, a move they later denied publicly.
Analysts say the mass crossover could reshape legislative control and deepen the political standoff between the state government and Wike’s loyalists. The PDP leadership has yet to issue an official response.
Friday’s defection adds a new layer of uncertainty to Rivers politics, raising questions about legislative stability, party cohesion and the future of political alliances in the state.
