ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the defection of 17 Rivers State lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress, describing the move as reckless and a betrayal at a critical juncture for the state’s democracy.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the lawmakers had shown themselves to be “enemies of democracy by abandoning the platform through which they were elected.”
He accused them of undermining the mandate of Rivers people and destabilising the legislature for partisan interests.
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Seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, officially left the PDP for the APC on Friday during a plenary, citing what he described as a “division” within the PDP.
He stated, “Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the APC is issued to me in no time. But as I speak today, I am a member of the APC. I am happy to be a member of APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. Mr President is doing so much for this country.
As of today, even the national headquarters of the PDP is not functioning as a result of this division. There are two factions, and the constitution is clear that when there is a division in any political party, when the party is divided, members including Assembly members who no longer have hope can leave the party without any consequences.
That is why I had to make this clear, that the foundation for this defection is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
However, Ememobong said the move was unsurprising, describing it as a case of re-defection. “They had previously defected then later denied it. The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made a mockery of the legislature.
So, the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
At Friday’s plenary, the House also raised concerns over Fubara’s delay in submitting the list of commissioners’ nominees for screening, with the Speaker calling it a breach of the constitution.
The House adjourned plenary to 26 January 2026.
A statement by the Speaker’s media aide, Martins Wachukwu, noted that the House reaffirmed its resolution to adopt the auditorium of the legislative quarters as its hallowed chamber.
Titled, “Rivers Assembly Reaffirms Resolution on the Adoption of Assembly Quarters Auditorium as Chamber,” with a sub-title, “As 17 Members of the House Defect to the APC,” the statement highlighted the reaffirmation during the 39th Legislative Sitting of the 3rd Session of the Tenth Assembly.
Deputy Majority Leader Linda Somiari-Stewart explained that section 101 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers the House to regulate its own procedures, including the location of its sittings for effective governance.
She called for the reaffirmation of the current hallowed Chamber at the Assembly quarters as the lawful venue for legislative business throughout the Tenth Assembly.
Members supported the motion and urged the Clerk to continue providing administrative support for the Chamber.
Speaking on the motion, Amaewhule said that an Assembly is defined by its people, not its building, and called on security agencies to continue safeguarding the Assembly quarters so the House can perform its constitutional duties.
The statement added, “Still on Friday, 17 members of the House who were elected into the House under the umbrella of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, defected to the APC.
The reason given for the defection, as individually affirmed, was predicated on the division in the party at the national level, which has made the future of the party hazy and nebulous.”
Those who defected include the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule; the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol; the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack; the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart; the Chief Whip, Hon. Frankline Nwabuchi; and the Deputy Whip, Hon. Ofiks Kabang.
Other members are Hon. Peter Abbey, Hon. Smart Adoki, Hon. Igwe Aforji, Hon. Arnold Davids, Hon. Enemi George, Hon. Tekenari Granville, Hon. Christian Nwankwo, Hon. Gerald Oforji, Hon. Azeru Opara, Hon. Lolo Opuende, and Hon. Solomon Wami.