27 Rivers State House of Assembly members have defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
This may not be unconnected to the unending political tension in the state.
The crisis came into public light following the burning of the Rivers State Assembly Complex on 29th October.
But in his reaction, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of orchestrating the burning of a section of the State House Assembly complex.
The rift among members of the State House of Assembly had led to some lawmakers commencing impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. However, this move was halted following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
The crisis in the 32-member Assembly had begun as a result of a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Though the two politicians have both attended same public events in the last few weeks and all seemed to have been settled but with Monday’s defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, more drama might unfold in the state’s political arena.
SDP, APC members decamp to Fubara-led PDP
Meanwhile, some political players from other parties over the weekend announced their defection to the PDP.
Leading the defectors from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the APC were the deputy governorship candidate of the SDP in the 2023 election, Patricia Ogbonnaya; and former Ahoada-West Chairman, Karibo Wilson.
They decamped alongside their supporters and other party excos.
The politicians dumped their former parties to pitch tent with the PDP group loyal to Fubara.
Also in attendance were some of the Ehie-led group of lawmakers, with the member representing Ahoada West, Goodboy Sokari representing the governor alongside Oko Jumbo from Bonny Constituency.
