APC tightens grip on Rivers as six PDP lawmakers defect in House

Six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Rivers State in the House of Representatives have crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), further weakening the opposition party’s presence in the state.

The lawmakers 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 follows the recent exit of Rivers State Governor Siminalyi Fubara, who formally joined the APC on December 5, 2025. His move had been preceded by the defection of 15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, to the ruling party.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defections during Wednesday’s plenary after reading letters submitted by the lawmakers.

Senior APC figures were on hand to witness the switch, among them the party’s national vice-chairman (South-South), Victor Gaidam; national spokesperson, Felix Morka; national youth leader, Dayo Israel; and national secretary, Ajibola Basiru. The defecting lawmakers were later invited to the dais for photographs.

The development, however, triggered protests from the opposition. Ali Isa urged the speaker to declare the seats of the defecting lawmakers vacant, citing constitutional provisions.

Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda also faulted the defection process, arguing that there was no legal requirement for lawmakers to announce their defection on the floor of the House. He demanded that the ceremony be struck out of the day’s Votes and Proceedings.

“If you want to defect, go back to your ward and do it there,” Chinda said.

Abbas declined to rule on the objections, noting only that the concerns had been recorded.

The latest wave of defections comes on the heels of last week’s exit of four Rivers lawmakers to the APC. They include Umezuruike Manuchim (Port Harcourt I), who defected from the Labour Party, as well as Boniface Emerengwa (Ikwerre/Emohua), Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni) and Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru).

Following the latest exits, the PDP now retains just three representatives from Rivers State in the House: Kingsley Chinda, Kenneth Chikere (Port Harcourt I) and Kelechi Nwogu (Etche/Omuma).