The crisis rocking the political space in Rivers State has deepened as lawmakers of the State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyseom Wike, have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
27 out of the 32 lawmakers dumped the PDP amidst the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike, an immediate past governor of Rivers.
Channels Television reports that member of the Assembly, Enemi George, confirmed to the development on Monday, saying those who defected are 27 lawmakers under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule.
He said the decision was taken during their sitting on Monday morning.
For weeks, Amaewhule and another member, Edison Ehie, have been embroiled in a Speakership tussle. Amaewhule is believed to be loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike while Ehie is known to be in the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Assembly under Amaewhule had in October served an impeachment notice on the governor and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, some members of the Assembly loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and made Ehie the new Speaker.
The crisis in the 32-member Assembly had begun as a result of a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Though the two politicians have both attended same public events in the last few weeks and all seemed to have been settled but with Monday’s defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, more drama might unfold in the state’s political arena.
More Details Later…
