Admin I Monday, Dec. 11, 2023
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – At least 27 members of the River State House of Assembly have allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
According to Channels TV online, a member of the Assembly, Enemi George, who confirmed the development said the defected members were under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule.
He said the decision was taken during their sitting on Monday morning.
For weeks, Amaewhule and another member, Edison Ehie, have been embroiled in a Speakership tussle. Amaewhule is believed to be loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike while Ehie is known to be in the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Assembly under Amaewhule had in October served an impeachment notice on the governor and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, some members of the Assembly loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and made Ehie the new Speaker.
The crisis in the 32-member Assembly began as a result of a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Although President Bola Tinubu waded into the impasse, it appears the crisis is still brewing in River State. It is not clear who will have the upper hand at the end of the impasse.
