Port Harcourt, Nigeria – December 5, 2025 – In a seismic shift that has redrawn the political map of Rivers State, Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule and sixteen other lawmakers formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during Friday’s plenary session. The announcement, delivered personally by Amaewhule on the floor of the House, brings the total number of defectors to seventeen out of the assembly’s thirty-two members and hands the APC a commanding supermajority in what was until now a PDP-dominated legislature.
Standing before his colleagues in the temporary assembly quarters, Amaewhule declared that the decision was unanimous among the pro-Wike lawmakers. “We can no longer remain in a party that has been deeply divided and no longer represents the ideals we stood for,” he stated. “In line with Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, we have chosen to align with the All Progressives Congress, which offers a united and progressive platform.”
The defectors include Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Major Jack, Linda Stewart, Franklin Nwabochi, Azeru Opara, Smart Adoki, Enemi George, Solomon Wami, Igwe Aforji, Tekena Wellington, Looloo Opuende, Peter Abbey, Arnold Dennis, Chimezie Nwankwo, Ofiks Kabang, and Gerald Oforji. All are long-standing loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara since late 2023.
Factional APC Chairman Tony Okocha was present in the chamber to formally welcome the new members, describing the development as a “homecoming” that would strengthen the party’s foothold in the oil-rich state. The session ended with the remaining ten PDP lawmakers (those loyal to Governor Fubara) appointing Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo as their new Minority Leader, while three other pro-Fubara members who have boycotted sittings since the 2024 peace accord remained absent.
The defection ends months of speculation and marks the climax of a political crisis that began in October 2023 when the pro-Wike lawmakers attempted to impeach Governor Fubara over the state budget. The conflict escalated dramatically with the bombing and demolition of the assembly complex, forcing lawmakers to operate from makeshift quarters ever since. A fragile truce brokered by President Bola Tinubu in late 2023 collapsed within weeks, and the rift has since paralyzed governance, leaving Rivers without a fully constituted State Executive Council and with repeated rejection of the governor’s commissioner nominees.
The PDP’s internal divisions, particularly the invalidated ward congresses and the inability of the national leadership to reconcile the Wike and Fubara camps, were repeatedly cited by the defectors as the final straw. Amaewhule praised President Tinubu’s administration for its “love for Rivers State” and promised that joining the APC would enable the lawmakers to deliver more federal projects to their constituents.
With seventeen APC lawmakers now in control, the balance of power in the Rivers State House of Assembly has shifted decisively. The new majority can override gubernatorial vetoes, fast-track legislation favorable to the federal government, and exert unprecedented oversight over the Fubara administration. Political analysts say the development effectively neutralizes the governor ahead of the 2027 elections and strengthens Wike’s influence within the APC national structure.
Reactions across the state were swift and polarized. Supporters of Governor Fubara condemned the move as a betrayal of the mandate given to the PDP in 2023, while Wike’s camp celebrated it as a victory for “progressive politics.” Social media platforms lit up with hashtags such as #RiversDefection and #WikeWinsAgain, as videos of the plenary session circulated widely.
Governor Fubara, currently on official assignment in Abuja, has yet to issue an official response, though sources close to the Government House say a statement is expected soon. Meanwhile, the PDP national leadership has described the defection as “unfortunate” and hinted at possible legal action, although constitutional provisions protecting lawmakers in cases of party division make any challenge an uphill battle.
As Rivers State—Nigeria’s second-largest contributor to federal revenue—heads into 2026 with a fractured political class, the mass defection underscores the deepening personalization of power in Nigerian politics. What began as a succession dispute between a governor and his predecessor has now evolved into a full-blown realignment that could reshape the state’s governance for years to come.
