Porth Harcourt, Nigeria
A new twist has emerged in Rivers State politics as 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Channels TV reports that a member of the house, Enemi George, confirmed to the television station on Monday morning that the 27 lawmakers who are under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule have defected to the APC.
Since the political tussle between the governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the house has been divided between the duo, Amaewhule and another member, Edison Ehie as factional speakers for weeks.
Amaewhule is believed to be loyal to Wike while Ehie is known to be in the camp of Governor Fubara.
The Assembly under Amaewhule had in October served an impeachment notice on the governor and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, some members of the Assembly loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and made Ehie the new Speaker.
The crisis in the 32-member Assembly had begun due to a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Though the two politicians have both attended the same public events in the last few weeks and all seemed to have been settled with Monday’s defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, more drama might unfold in the state’s political arena.
