Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has given reasons for his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Amaewhule, while declaring that the APC is his new political party, emphasised that he was leaving the PDP due to divisions within the party.
The speaker announced his defection during plenary on Friday, just as 15 other lawmakers also defected with the Speaker.
Among those who announced their defection were all the principal officers of the House of Assembly.
The House of Assembly speaker stated that he would do everything necessary to ensure that his APC membership card is issued promptly.
He declared: “Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce to Honourable members that your Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to ensure that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time.”
Speaker Amaewhule stated that he was happy to defect to the APC, so that he could join forces with President Bola Tinubu on governance.
Amaewhule disclosed that President Tinubu means well for Nigeria, noting that the president is committed to tackling the issue of security in the country.
With the defection of the 16 lawmakers to APC, out of the 26 Assembly members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, they have become the majority in the House.
However, the reason given for the defection as individually affirmed was predicated on the division in the party at the national level, which has made the future of the party hazy and nebulous.
Lawmakers that defected to the APC on Friday include the Speaker, Amaewhule; Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol; Majority Leader; Hon Major Jack, Deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Linda Somiari- Stewart, Chief Whip; Hon. Frankline Nwabuchi, and the Deputy Whip, Hon Ofiks Kabang.
Others are Hon Peter Abbey; Hon. Smart Adoki; Hon. Igwe Aforji; Hon. Arnold Davids; Hon. Enemi George; Hon. Tekenari Granville; Hon. Christian Nwankwo; Hon. Gerald Oforji; Hon. Azeru Opara; Hon. Lolo Opuende, and Hon. Solomon Wami.
Commenting shortly after their defection, the Speaker lauded President Tinubu for his purposeful and exceptional leadership and pledged their support to the APC and the President.
The PDP has since reconstituted its new officers as the minority party in the House.
Those who took the oath of office include: Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo as the Minority Leader, Hon. Barile Nwakoh, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. John Dominic Iderima, Minority Whip, and Hon. Justina Emeji, Deputy Minority Whip.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, called the attention of the House to its earlier call, wherein the House urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to forward his list of commissioner-nominees to the House for screening and confirmation in line with the 1999 Constitution.
He noted that till date, the governor had not attended to the request, adding that the state had yet to have a full cabinet.
