The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the latest round of defections by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing it as a recycled political move carried out under the influence of their “paymaster and demigod.”
This condemnation followed the announcement on Friday that at least 16 lawmakers — led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule — had once again abandoned the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers, who are loyal to former Rivers State governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, confirmed an exclusive report earlier published by SaharaReporters.
Amaewhule, while declaring the mass defection during plenary, claimed the decision was prompted by what he called “deep divisions” within the PDP. The move has further heightened political tensions in Rivers State and intensified the longstanding internal crisis within the national leadership of the PDP.
In a statement released on Saturday, December 6, 2025, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, accused the lawmakers of consistently behaving in ways unworthy of their positions. The party alleged that the assembly members had turned the legislature into a tool for personal and political manipulation.
According to the PDP, the lawmakers’ repeated defections demonstrate their lack of loyalty, calling them “political puppets” and “obstacles to democratic growth.” The party insisted the lawmakers would be remembered as individuals who undermined the legislature and worked against democratic ideals.
The PDP argued that the lawmakers’ recent declaration amounted to nothing more than “defecting from the APC back to the APC,” noting that they had long ceased to uphold the principles of the party through which they were originally elected.
The PDP vowed to challenge the move legally, stressing that it would not allow its electoral mandate to be transferred to another party “through dubious and underhanded tactics.”
Ememobong explained that the party would activate constitutional provisions to recover the seats, saying, “The PDP will take legal steps to reclaim the mandates obtained under our platform which these individuals have now attempted to switch unlawfully.”
The party urged its supporters in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast, assuring them that efforts were underway to rebuild and strengthen the PDP in the state based on fairness and inclusiveness.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier reported on December 4, 2025, that Wike had struck an agreement with his loyal lawmakers to defect to the APC as part of a strategy to reaffirm his importance to President Bola Tinubu. The arrangement reportedly came after Wike’s influence in the Presidency began to decline amid growing concerns over controversies surrounding him.
Despite Wike’s attempts — including pushing his loyal assembly members to pass a vote of confidence in President Tinubu — sources within the Presidency said the effort did little to sway the President’s advisers, who have urged Tinubu to distance himself from the embattled minister.
