Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Southern Nigeria announced a major political shift on Friday as they left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers, led by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, formalized their decision during a plenary session held at the Assembly complex. Their defection marks one of the most significant political realignments in the state in recent years.
During the session, Speaker Amaewhule told the chamber that the group reached the decision after examining what he described as a growing “clear division” within the Peoples Democratic Party. He explained that the internal crisis had become impossible for the lawmakers to ignore.
Okay News reports that the announcement came amid rising political tension in Rivers State following long-running disagreements involving key political figures and party structures.
The lawmakers did not immediately outline their next steps within the All Progressives Congress, but political analysts believe the defection will reshape alliances in the state ahead of upcoming national and state-level political contests.
More details are expected as political stakeholders react to the development and the Assembly adjusts to the new partisan configuration.
