The political landscape of Rivers State witnessed a dramatic shift yesterday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) officially assumed control of the State House of Assembly. The change in leadership followed the defection of 17 lawmakers, including the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The mass defection instantly gave the APC the required numerical strength to dominate the assembly. Among those who switched allegiance alongside Speaker Amaewhule were Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Majority Leader Major Jack, Deputy Majority Leader Linda Somiari-Stewart, Chief Whip Frankline Nwabuchi, and Deputy Whip Offiks Kabang, alongside 12 other members.
Division and Uncertainty Cited
Announcing his defection, Speaker Amaewhule squarely blamed the decision on the “lingering division” within the PDP at the national level, stating that the internal crisis had “cast uncertainties on the future of the party.”
“APC is my new party and I will do all that is needed to be done to ensure that the party card of the APC is issued to me in no time,” Amaewhule declared, adding his desire to “join forces with Mr. President” and support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reacting to the development from Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, confirmed the defection was a direct fallout of the PDP’s deep-seated crisis, asserting that the party was “fully factionalised.” Despite the turmoil and his recent ‘expulsion’ by a rival faction, the Minister reiterated that he remains a member of the PDP. The party’s national disputes continue to play out in court, with Wike’s faction currently battling for control of the national secretariat.
New Minority and Chamber Reaffirmation
Ten of the previously elected PDP lawmakers opted to remain in the party. They immediately moved to constitute the new minority leadership of the House, naming Sylvanus Nwankwo as the Minority Leader, Barile Nwakoh as Deputy Minority Leader, John Dominic Iderima as Minority Whip, and Justina Emeji as Deputy Minority Whip.
Following the defections, the new APC-dominated House, through a motion, reaffirmed its earlier resolution to adopt the auditorium at the State House of Assembly quarters as its hallowed chamber for conducting legislative business. The Speaker, while supporting the motion, stressed that the Assembly “consists of people and not the building,” urging security agencies to protect the quarters to ensure lawmakers can perform their constitutional duties.
The House also raised concerns over the executive arm of the state government. Majority Leader Major Jack lamented Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s alleged failure to submit a list of commissioner-nominees to the House for screening, urging the Governor to comply with the 1999 Constitution to ensure the state operates with a full cabinet.
