The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the recent decision by 17 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly to leave the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a destabilising move that undermines democratic norms.
The mass defection, led by the Speaker, Martin Chike Amaewhule, marks another chapter in an ongoing political upheaval in the state, tracing back to previous defections and internal disputes within the party.
In a statement on Saturday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, condemned the defectors as “political puppets” whose actions have weakened the legislature and betrayed the mandate of the people of Rivers State.
Ememobong also warned that the party would pursue legal measures to reclaim the political mandate that these lawmakers obtained under the PDP banner.
“We have seen on various media platforms news of the redefection of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who, for a second time, announced their defection from our party. These are people whom the world is aware are doing the bidding of their paymaster and demigod,” Ememobong stated.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have by their actions since they assumed office shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress. They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature,” he added.
The defection includes high-ranking lawmakers such as the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol; Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack; Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart; Chief Whip, Hon. Frankline Nwabuchi; and Deputy Whip, Hon. Ofiks Kabang. Other defectors 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.
According to Ememobong, the lawmakers’ justification of “division in PDP” reflects a long-standing internal crisis that has plagued the party at both state and national levels.
He described the defection as “from APC to APC,” referencing the previous defections and subsequent returns of these lawmakers, highlighting a recurring pattern of political expediency rather than ideological conviction.
The recent developments echo a similar mass defection in December 2023, when 27 PDP lawmakers left the party for APC, citing internal party disputes. That defection triggered a constitutional crisis as the PDP leadership argued the seats of the defectors had been vacated, demanding new elections.
The Assembly faced functional paralysis, including reported demolitions of parts of the legislative complex, as rival factions claimed legitimacy, creating prolonged instability in the state legislature.
