Picnews
The big news out of Rivers today is that Speaker Martin Amaewhule and a whole bunch of his colleagues – sixteen in total – have walked out of the PDP and joined the APC. The walk‑out happened on Friday, December 5, 2025, right during a plenary session, and it’s being billed as one of the most dramatic political realignments the state has seen in years.
Amaewhule told the house that the move was driven by a “clear division” inside the PDP. He said the party’s internal crisis had become impossible to ignore, and that the APC now represents the best path forward for Rivers and for President Bola Tinubu’s agenda .The speaker even read a formal notice of defection, emphasizing that the decision was made after careful consideration of the constitutional provisions.
Among the sixteen who left are Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Majority Leader Major Jack, Linda Stewart, Franklin Nwabochi, Azeru Opara, Smart Adoki, Enemi George, Solomon Wami, and several others such as Igwe Aforji, Peter Abbey, Arnold Dennis, Tekena Wellington, Looloo Opuende, Chimezie Nwankwo and Ofiks Kabang. Their departure tips the numbers in the 32‑seat assembly dramatically, shrinking the PDP’s caucus to just sixteen members.
The defection is the latest flashpoint in a long‑running feud between former governor Nyesom Wike (now FCT minister) and current Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Since 2023 the two factions have been locking horns, staging parallel sittings, and fighting over the legitimacy of the assembly – a saga that’s spawned multiple court cases and even a brief state of emergency declaration. Analysts say the move could further destabilise the PDP’s grip on the oil‑rich state.
Legally, the switch raises questions about the lawmakers’ right to keep their seats. Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution allows a legislator to defect only if there’s a proven division in the original party; otherwise, the seat can be declared vacant. Human‑rights lawyer Femi Falana has already warned that the defecting members could lose their seats unless they prove such a division exists .The PDP has yet to issue a formal response, but the party is expected to challenge the move in court.
If the courts uphold the defection, the APC will command a majority in the Rivers House, giving it unprecedented influence ahead of the 2027 elections and reshaping the state’s political map. Even if the seats are eventually vacated, the episode signals a seismic shift in Rivers politics and sets the stage for a heated battle over who controls the assembly and, by extension, the state’s resources. Picnews will keep an eye on this – it’s a story that’s far from over.
