PDP Condemns ‘Redefection’ Of Rivers Assembly Members, Vows Legal Action To Recover Mandates
PDP Condemns ‘Redefection’ Of Rivers Assembly Members, Vows Legal Action To Recover Mandates
The opposition party said the lawmakers, who had previously defected and later reversed their decision, were merely acting on the instructions of their “paymaster and demigod.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it described as the “redefection” of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who, for the second time, publicly announced their departure from the party.
The opposition party said the lawmakers, who had previously defected and later reversed their decision, were merely acting on the instructions of their “paymaster and demigod.”
On Friday, no fewer than 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker of the assembly, Martin Amaewhule, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection by the lawmakers loyal to the former governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, validated an exclusive report earlier published by SaharaReporters.
Amaewhule, who announced the collective defection of the lawmakers during plenary on Friday, told lawmakers and observers in the House that the decision was driven by what he described as a “clear division” within the PDP.
The move represents a significant escalation in the protracted political turmoil in Rivers State, and at the national level of the PDP, where tensions between rival factions have intensified.
In a statement issued on Saturday, December 6, 2025, by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said the lawmakers had consistently demonstrated behaviour unbecoming of elected representatives and had reduced the state legislature to a tool for political manipulation.
According to the party, the lawmakers’ actions since assuming office “have shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress.”
The PDP maintained that the legislators “will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made a mockery of the legislature.”
Describing the latest move as nothing more than a circular political manoeuvre, the party stated that their announcement was best seen as “a defection from APC to APC,” insisting that the lawmakers had long ceased to align with the values and platform under which they were elected.
The party added that it would not allow its mandate to be “ignobly and surreptitiously switched to another platform,” stressing that it would begin legal proceedings to reclaim the seats.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party, which these people have now ignobly and surreptitiously switched to another platform,” Ememobong stated.
The party called for calm and loyalty among its supporters in Rivers State, assuring them that its leadership was taking steps to strengthen internal structures and rebuild the party in the state.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” the statement added.
The PDP reiterated its commitment to defending democratic principles and ensuring that voters’ mandates are not eroded through what it considers unconstitutional defections.
SaharaReporters on Thursday, December 4, 2025, exclusively reported that in a bid to reassert his relevance to President Bola Tinubu, Wike struck a deal with his loyal members of the Rivers State House Assembly to formally defect to the APC on Friday (today).
The deal came as Wike continued to lose ground with President Tinubu amid mounting pressure from both domestic and international stakeholders.
Sources close to the Presidency told SaharaReporters that Tinubu’s inner circle had grown increasingly wary of Wike, who has faced a string of controversies since joining the federal cabinet.
While Tinubu belongs to the ruling APC, Wike remains a member of the opposition PDP, which is currently divided by internal factional disputes.
SaharaReporters learnt that despite Wike’s efforts to shore up his standing, including directing loyal members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to pass a vote of confidence in the President, insiders said the move failed to impress Tinubu.
“Wike is desperate to impress Tinubu. Meanwhile, the President’s political gladiators told him to ditch the minister, who is enmeshed in various scandals,” one of the sources had said.
