Rivers Defection APC: 17 Lawmakers Join APC as Fubara Stays Silent and Wike Holds PDP Line

Rivers Defection APC: 17 Lawmakers Join APC as Fubara Stays Silent and Wike Holds PDP Line. The political crisis gripping Rivers State escalated dramatically on Friday, December 5, 2025, as 17 members of the State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This move significantly shifts the political balance in the state and cements the alliance between the legislative arm and the APC-led Federal Government.

The defecting lawmakers, who represent a majority of the 32-member Assembly, announced their decision during a plenary session. Speaker Amaewhule, who leads the faction loyal to former Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, justified the exodus by citing a “clear division” and internal crisis at the national level of the PDP.

He argued that the party’s current split has left its future “hazy and nebulous,” making continued membership untenable. Amaewhule stressed that the defection was constitutionally permissible, as the law allows members to leave a political party when it is factionalized.

• Pledge to President Tinubu: Amaewhule stated that he was now a member of the APC and that the move was necessary to “join forces with Mr. President” to support the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, whom he lauded for showing “love to Rivers State.”
• The Lawmakers’ List: The defectors included the Assembly’s leadership: Speaker Martin Amaewhule, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Majority Leader Major Jack, and Chief Whip Frankline Nwabuchi, among others.

Wike Insists He Remains in PDP

Despite the defection of his core allies, who are believed to have acted in line with his political direction, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike insisted on the same day that he remains a member of the PDP and has no intention of defecting to any party, including the APC.

Addressing the media in Abuja, Wike described the lawmakers’ decision as “unfortunate” but politically justifiable. He confirmed that they had not informed him before the announcement, but acknowledged their right to leave the party given the severe factionalization. Wike pledged to continue working with the approximately 10 members who remained loyal to the PDP, while urging the opposition party’s national structure to urgently resolve its internal crisis.

READ ALSO: Wike Reacts: Rivers Assembly Defectors Didn’t Inform Me Before Joining Rivers Defection APC

Governor Fubara’s Silence

In the wake of this political earthquake, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, maintained a notable silence. As of Saturday, December 6, 2025, the Governor and his supporters have made no official public comment regarding the mass defection or the potential renewal of the political crisis that has gripped the state since late 2023.

The defection instantly reversed the recent, fragile peace achieved between the executive and legislative arms in the state, raising widespread fears of renewed political instability. In an indication of the potential for legislative obstruction, the Amaewhule-led Assembly also used the sitting to fault Governor Fubara for his continued delay in forwarding a full list of commissioner nominees for screening, describing the working cabinet as incomplete and a breach of the constitution. For more information, I recommend Songbux.