The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing them as “enemies of democracy” and accusing them of acting on the instructions of their “demigod and paymasters.”
The strong reaction came on Saturday in a statement issued by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, who said the lawmakers’ action mocked the legislative arm of government and further exposed them as politicians driven by personal interests rather than public service.
The political crisis in Rivers State took a new turn on Friday when 17 lawmakers—led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule—announced during plenary that they had left the PDP for the APC, citing what they called “factionalization” and internal problems in the PDP. The defection marks the second time the same group of lawmakers is publicly declaring loyalty to another party, after previously announcing a defection and later withdrawing it.
Amaewhule told his colleagues that he had already notified his ward chairman of his resignation from the PDP and had registered as a member of the APC. According to him, the decision was necessary because the PDP was in crisis and no longer served the political interests of its members.
But the PDP insists the defections are not driven by any genuine party dispute, calling the lawmakers’ justification “a weak excuse” meant to hide their real motives.
Reacting sharply, the PDP accused the defecting lawmakers of being controlled by external forces interested in destabilising Rivers State and weakening the party’s influence in the South-South region.
“We have seen on various media platforms news of the defection of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who, for a second time, announced their defection from our party,” the statement read.
“We recall that they had done so earlier and later recanted. These are people whom the world is aware are doing the bidding of their paymaster and demigod. They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
The statement did not mention names, but the PDP has long accused some political actors in the state of manipulating members of the House of Assembly to create political instability.
Rivers State has been in the political spotlight for several months due to a power tussle involving the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and factions within the state legislature. The crisis began in late 2023 when a group of lawmakers attempted to impeach the governor, a move that escalated tensions and led to a breakdown of trust between key political actors aligned to different power blocs in the state.
The conflict has roots in long-standing political divisions in Rivers, where loyalty to influential political figures often shapes the direction of the House of Assembly. Though Governor Fubara and former governor Nyesom Wike were once close allies, their relationship deteriorated soon after Fubara assumed office. Analysts say many of the lawmakers are loyal to Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while the governor is backed by another faction of the PDP.
Friday’s mass defection is seen as another chapter in this ongoing struggle, raising questions about the stability of the Rivers political system.
By defecting once again in 2025, the lawmakers have signaled that their earlier retreat was temporary and possibly influenced by political negotiations behind the scenes.
The PDP believes the lawmakers are being used as pawns to weaken the party’s control in one of its strongest states. Rivers State has been a PDP stronghold since 1999, delivering large numbers of votes to the party in successive national and state elections.
The defection of 17 lawmakers significantly alters the political structure of the Rivers House of Assembly. With a House of 32 members, the defection gives the APC-aligned group clear numerical advantage over PDP loyalists.
This shift may have consequences for the governor, who now faces an Assembly dominated by lawmakers loyal to a rival party and possibly opposed to his administration. It may also affect the passage of bills, approval of budgets and other legislative functions that require cooperation between the executive and legislative arms.
Reactions from the public have been mixed. Supporters of the APC say the move strengthens the party’s presence in the South-South region and gives Rivers people more political choices. However, PDP supporters accuse the defecting lawmakers of betraying the mandate given to them by voters who elected them on the PDP platform.
The defection is expected to intensify the ongoing political realignments in Rivers State. The PDP may seek legal redress, while the APC may move to consolidate its new strength in the Assembly.
There is also speculation that the development could influence preparations for future elections, as political parties begin strategising for the 2027 general polls. With Rivers State being a major political and economic hub in the South-South, control of the state is seen as crucial for any party hoping to make gains at the national level.
In the meantime, the PDP has vowed not to be intimidated, saying it will continue to defend what it describes as the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
“We will continue to stand by democratic principles and fight actions that attempt to destroy them,” the party’s statement concluded.
