The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another major setback in Rivers State, with six of its members in the House of Representatives defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers who announced their switch are Dumnamere Dekor (Khana/Gokana), Solomon Bob (Abua/Odual–Ahoada East), Hart Cyril (Degema/Bonny), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni), Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt II) and Felix Nweke (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai).
Their defection comes amid a sweeping political realignment in the state, following the recent move by Governor Siminalyi Fubara to the APC on December 5, 2025. Before the governor’s decision, 15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had also abandoned the PDP for the ruling party.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas formally announced the defections after reading letters submitted by the lawmakers.
Top APC officials were present to receive the defectors, including Victor Gaidam, the party’s national vice-chairman (South-South); Felix Morka, national spokesperson; Dayo Israel, national youth leader; and Ajibola Basiru, national secretary. The lawmakers later posed for photographs at the chamber.
The development sparked protests from the opposition benches. Ali Isa objected, calling on the speaker to declare the seats of the defecting members vacant.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda also criticised the brief ceremony, insisting that the House rules do not require lawmakers to announce defections during plenary sittings. He asked that the defection be removed from the official record of the day’s proceedings.
“There is no law that says you must defect on the floor of the House. Go back to your wards and do it there,” Chinda argued.
Speaker Abbas, however, declined to make an immediate ruling, saying only that the objections had been noted.
The latest defections follow the earlier exit of four Rivers lawmakers to the APC last week. Umezuruike Manuchim (Port Harcourt I) moved from the Labour Party, while Boniface Emerengwa (Ikwerre/Emohua), Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni) and Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru) left the PDP.
With the latest development, the PDP is now left with just three members from Rivers State in the House of Representatives: Kingsley Chinda, Kenneth Chikere (Port Harcourt I) and Kelechi Nwogu (Etche/Omuma).
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