Rivers Assembly Crisis: Speaker, 16 Lawmakers Dump PDP for APC

Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, have formally announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amaewhule announced the decision during a plenary session on Friday, citing what he described as “unresolved conflicts” and a “clear division” within the PDP  as the primary reasons for their exit.

Addressing his colleagues, the Speaker declared his allegiance to the APC, and expressed his readiness to work with President Bola Tinubu.

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“Distinguished colleagues, let me happily announce to honourable members that your Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my Ward Chairman, Mr Osondo Orlu, of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.

“APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time,” Amaewhule said.

“I am happy to be a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. He is doing so much for this country

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“We can no longer remain in a party where unresolved conflicts have made effective representation difficult,” He further explained.

This defection follows a recent vote of confidence passed by the assembly in President Tinubu, where they urged him to seek re-election.