Political Upheaval in Rivers State House of Assembly as 27 Lawmakers Defect to APC

Political Upheaval in Rivers State House of Assembly as 27 Lawmakers Defect to APC

In a significant twist, the crisis engulfing the Rivers State House of Assembly escalated on Monday as twenty-seven members made a bold move by defecting from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Citing division within the PDP as the primary catalyst for their departure, these lawmakers, reportedly aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, convened for a pivotal plenary session at 8 am on Monday. The decision was made under heightened security measures at the entrance of the Assembly complex along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt.

Simultaneously, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called for an emergency executive council meeting in response to this political shake-up. The ongoing meeting is expected to address the defection of the 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC. Presiding over the meeting, Governor Fubara aims to navigate the implications of this political realignment, marking the 5th executive council meeting since the last session held on October 27, 2023, during which four draft bills were approved.