Factional Speaker sheds light on the motives behind the 27 lawmakers’ shift to APC

The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly’s factional Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, claim that they followed the law when they switched from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.

Speaking at the APC’s Thanksgiving/dedication service at the Port Harcourt Polo Club in New GRA Port Harcourt, Amaewhule emphasised that their defection was necessary due to the PDP’s disintegration.

“Some days ago we defected inside the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in line with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” Amaewhule stated, addressing party members during the dedication service.

“We ensured that due procedure was followed and that nothing we did violated the 1999 Constitution’s modified provisions.

The Constitution allows for individual defection. Because of this, Section 109, Sub-section 1g permits current lawmakers to resign from office if there is a rift among the party that controls the House of Assembly.

“We defected to the All Progressives Congress in accordance with that section, as there is evidently a division within the PDP.”

The divided Speaker pointed out that after observing President Bola Tinubu’s accomplishments and his style of governance, members of the State Assembly decided to switch to the APC.

Many of you might be taken aback. I’ve never participated in another party.

“The majority of us have only ever participated in the PDP. However, we came to this firm decision, which is the result of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which the nation’s political leader initiated.

Amaewhule claims that the explanation was required in response to rumours on social media that the 27 lawmakers’ defection was not in accordance with the legislation.

He insisted that his group is the legitimate group that makes up the State House of Assembly, stressing that they had the necessary numbers, in defiance of a court ruling prohibiting him from presenting himself as the Speaker of the House.

Loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, Amaewhule mocked the four state legislators led by Edison Ehie, calling their meetings “a meeting of four friends in a beer parlour.”

Due to disagreements within the PDP’s national leadership, 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly defected to the APC on Monday.

However, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s ally, Edison Ehie, the current Speaker of the House, declared their seats empty.