27 PDP Rivers Assembly lawmakers defect to APC

27 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Rivers State House of Assembly have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

During their meeting on Monday, a member of the Rivers Assembly, Enemi George, stated that the defectors were followers of Martin Amaewhule.

There has been a power struggle in the Rivers Assembly for weeks, with Amaewhule and another member, Edison Ehie, both vying for the speakership position.

Under Amaewhule’s leadership, the Assembly issued an impeachment notice to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in October and removed Ehie as the House leader.

The Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stormed the State Assembly complex while House members fled for safety as tear gas was fired outside the complex.

Nevertheless, some Assembly members ousted Amaewhule and appointed Ehie as the new Speaker.

Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had urged all parties involved in the political turmoil in Rivers State to cease hostilities and opt for a peaceful resolution.

The rift in the 32-member Assembly started due to a conflict between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade