‘Their Move Is Simply a Defection From APC to APC’ – PDP Criticizes Rivers Lawmakers

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as reckless, self-serving, and a betrayal of the democratic mandate entrusted to them by the people.

Speaking to Saturday Punch, PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said the lawmakers’ decision undermined legislative stability and was driven purely by political opportunism.

The mass defection—led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule—was announced during Friday’s plenary session. Amaewhule claimed that divisions within the PDP prompted their shift to the APC and declared his willingness to fully align with the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu.

He stated, “As of today, I am a member of the APC. We want to join forces with Mr President, who is doing so much for this country. The PDP at the national level is divided, and the constitution is clear that when a party is in such crisis, members can leave without consequences.”

PDP: This Is Not Defection—It’s ‘Re-Defection’

Ememobong dismissed the lawmakers’ explanation, arguing that the move was neither surprising nor new.

“This is a case of re-defection. They had defected before and later denied it,” he said. “These members will go down in history as enemies of democracy who made a mockery of the legislature. The simplest way to interpret their move is that they defected from APC to APC.”

Assembly Adjourns Over Delay in Commissioner List

Meanwhile, the Rivers Assembly raised concerns over Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s delay in submitting commissioner-nominee lists for screening, a development Speaker Amaewhule described as unconstitutional.

The House subsequently adjourned plenary to January 26, 2026. A statement from the Speaker’s media aide, Martins Wachukwu, reaffirmed the lawmakers’ decision to continue holding sittings at the legislative quarters’ auditorium—adopted since December 14, 2023.

During the 39th Legislative Sitting, Deputy Majority Leader Linda Somiari-Stewart moved a motion citing Section 101 of the Constitution, which empowers the Assembly to regulate its sittings, including venue selection. Amaewhule supported the motion, stressing that “an Assembly is defined by its members, not its building,” and called on security agencies to safeguard the legislative quarters.