BREAKING: 16 Rivers State Lawmakers, Speaker Dump PDP For APC, Confirming SaharaReporters’ Exclusive Report

Amaewhule, who announced the collective defection of the lawmakers during plenary on Friday, told lawmakers and observers in the House that the decision was driven by what he described as a “clear division” within the PDP.

No fewer than 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker of the assembly, Martin Amaewhule, on Friday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection by the lawmakers loyal to the former governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, validated an exclusive report earlier published by SaharaReporters.

Amaewhule, who announced the collective defection of the lawmakers during plenary on Friday, told lawmakers and observers in the House that the decision was driven by what he described as a “clear division” within the PDP.

The move represents a significant escalation in the protracted political turmoil in Rivers State, and at the national level of the PDP, where tensions between rival factions have intensified.

SaharaReporters on Thursday, December 4, 2025, exclusively reported that in a bid to reassert his relevance to President Bola Tinubu, Wike struck a deal with his loyal members of the Rivers State House Assembly to formally defect to the APC on Friday (today).

The deal came as Wike continued to lose ground with President Tinubu amid mounting pressure from both domestic and international stakeholders.

Sources close to the Presidency told SaharaReporters that Tinubu’s inner circle had grown increasingly wary of Wike, who has faced a string of controversies since joining the federal cabinet.

While Tinubu belongs to the ruling APC, Wike remains a member of the opposition PDP, which is currently divided by internal factional disputes.

SaharaReporters learnt that despite Wike’s efforts to shore up his standing, including directing loyal members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to pass a vote of confidence in the President, insiders said the move failed to impress Tinubu.

“Wike is desperate to impress Tinubu. Meanwhile, the President’s political gladiators told him to ditch the minister, who is enmeshed in various scandals,” one of the sources said.

The resolution, adopted during the House’s 37th Legislative Sitting, followed a motion sponsored by Majority Leader Hon. Major Jack and 25 other members.

The lawmakers praised Tinubu’s appointments of Rivers indigenes into key federal positions and cited federal projects in the state, including the East–West Road and the Bonny–Bodo Road.

Speaker Martin Amaewhule described Tinubu as a “compassionate” leader whose policies have increased funds available to states and local governments, enabling them to meet obligations such as salary payments.

The lawmakers also noted that despite belonging to the APC, Tinubu had not discriminated against members of the PDP.

The Assembly resolved to support the President and mobilise constituents for his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

However, sources also said the President was believed to be under pressure from the United States government as well as Christian and Muslim leaders, many of whom had voiced strong opposition to Wike’s continued influence.