The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the 27 members of the state House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, are no longer members of the party. This comes despite a recent court ruling that stated the lawmakers are still members of the PDP.
The 27 lawmakers had defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023, amidst a political crisis in the state. The defection was seen as a move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who had fallen out with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara had declared the lawmakers’ defection as illegal, stating that there was no crisis in the PDP to warrant their exit. The state government had also recognized a factional speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and dismissed the Amaewhule-led lawmakers.
However, a Rivers State High Court ruled on Monday that the embattled lawmakers are still members of the PDP, as their defection to the APC could not be established through newspaper publications, radio announcements, or online publications.
Despite the court ruling, the Rivers PDP spokesman, Sydney Gbara, insisted that the 27 lawmakers are no longer members of the party. He stated that they had publicly announced their defection to the APC and had been participating in the party’s activities.
Gbara said, “They are no longer members of the PDP. They had already announced on the floor of the assembly during a plenary that they have left the PDP for the APC, and they did a public show to that effect. How did they now turn around overnight and claim that they are still PDP members?”
When asked what the party would do if the lawmakers decide to return to the PDP, Gbara stated that they would need to apply to the party and go through the necessary procedures.
The political crisis in Rivers State continues to unfold, with the PDP and APC engaging in a battle of wits over the legality of the lawmakers’ defection.
