“We Never Defected to APC” – Amaewhule, Leader of 27 Pro-Wike Rivers Lawmakers, Says

The political crisis in Rivers State continues to intensify as Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the pro-Wike faction in the Rivers State House of Assembly, denied allegations that he and 26 other lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a video posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Mr. Amaewhule stated, “We were elected under the platform of the PDP, and we never defected. We never took any steps to join another party. What you see are mere plans by the Governor of Rivers State.”

This declaration follows months of controversy surrounding the group’s political alignment. In December 2023, the 27 lawmakers, loyal to former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, were reported to have defected from the PDP to the APC amidst escalating tensions between Mr. Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

While a video had surfaced of the lawmakers waving APC flags and chanting President Bola Tinubu’s campaign slogan during their supposed defection, Mr. Amaewhule insists this did not reflect a formal defection.

Legal Battles Over Defection Claims

The controversy reached a tipping point when Edison Ehie, a lawmaker allied with Governor Fubara, declared the 27 seats vacant based on their alleged defection. Mr. Ehie cited a court order that permitted him to take control of the Rivers legislature.

However, this decision was short-lived. A Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP), which sought the replacement of the 27 lawmakers. The court ruled that the APP’s suit was “status-barred,” as it had not been filed within the legal timeframe. Additionally, the court found insufficient evidence to prove that the lawmakers had officially left the PDP for the APC.

Mr. Amaewhule accused Governor Fubara of orchestrating the legal battle against his faction, claiming that the governor was attempting to remove the lawmakers “through the backdoor.”

“The governor is afraid of democracy, and that is why he’s hell-bent on removing all of us. He runs to every court anywhere in this country, looking for how to remove us through the backdoor,” Mr. Amaewhule stated after the court ruling.

Fallout and Tensions After Peace Deal Collapse

The dispute is part of a broader fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Despite Mr. Wike’s instrumental role in Fubara’s rise to power, the two have been at odds since shortly after Fubara took office.

Although President Tinubu initially brokered a peace deal between the two factions, it quickly unraveled. In the months following, the pro-Wike lawmakers repeatedly clashed with Governor Fubara, passing bills by overriding his veto, including one that stripped the governor of his power to appoint local government caretaker committees.

Governor Fubara responded by declaring that Rivers State no longer had a functioning House of Assembly, asserting that the seats of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers had been declared vacant.

Rivers APC’s Response

In a new twist, the APC in Rivers State has vowed to take action against the 27 lawmakers who now claim they remain loyal to the PDP. The party, however, stated that its focus is currently on upcoming local government elections before addressing the matter.

“Right now, we are focused on local government elections, and after that, we will take necessary actions concerning them,” said Rivers APC chairperson Emeka Beke, according to a report by Punch newspaper.

Amidst the deepening crisis, efforts to reach the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, for comments on the allegations against Governor Fubara were unsuccessful.