The Nigerian political landscape underwent a profound transformation on Tuesday as a substantial contingent of lawmakers from the oil-rich Rivers State formally severed ties with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a coordinated move that has sent ripples through the National Assembly, two distinguished members of the Senate and six members of the House of Representatives announced their defection, citing irreconcilable divisions within their former party.
In the Senate, the atmosphere was one of high ceremony as Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East) and Senator Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South-East) formalised their transition. The Upper Chamber took the extraordinary step of suspending its standing rules to permit the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and other high-ranking party executives to witness the proceedings from within the chamber.
Both Senators, widely acknowledged as stalwarts of the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, indicated that the “deep and unresolved internal fissures” within the PDP necessitated their departure. This strategic migration further bolsters the APC’s dominance, bringing their total to 78 Senators and securing a formidable majority in the red chamber.
The migration was mirrored in the House of Representatives, where six members, all notable loyalists of the FCT Minister, relinquished their PDP memberships. The defecting lawmakers include:
- Dumnamere Robinson Dekor (Khana/Gokana)
- Solomon Bob (Abua/Odual and Ahoada East)
- Hart Cyril (Degema/Bonny)
- Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni)
- Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt II)
- Felix Nweke (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai)
While critics have expressed trepidation that this wave of defections following the recent move by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara portends the rise of a “one-party state,” the Senate Leadership has been quick to dismiss such concerns.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele maintained that the APC remains a “responsible stakeholder” in the nation’s democratic experiment. He reassured members of the minority parties that the ruling party remains committed to collaborative governance, with a primary focus on the delivery of tangible benefits such as food security and enhanced healthcare.
The President of the Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, remarked that the influx of new members imposes a greater duty on the APC to uphold internal democracy. “Anyone who joins the party will be afforded the opportunity to participate and flourish fairly,” Senator Akpabio stated, emphasizing that justice and inclusiveness must remain the bedrock of national policy.
As the APC consolidates its legislative power, the Senate President offered his sympathies to the opposition, urging them to diligently address their internal challenges for the sake of a healthy democratic discourse.
