27 Rivers Lawmakers Dump PDP for APC
27 out of the 32 members of Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike dump PDP, defect to the APC
Twenty-seven members of the state's ruling Peoples Democratic Party defected to the All Progressives Congress on Monday, throwing the Rivers State House of Assembly into disarray.
The legislators blamed internal PDP strife as the main cause of their APC defection.
Following the large-scale exodus of 27 Rivers State lawmakers who were faithful to Nyesom Wike on Monday, political analysts have projected that Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara is currently under cloud of uncertainty. According to some observers, the 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are paving the way for Fubara's eventual impeachment.
The legislators who have defected are those who supported Wike, the former governor of Rivers, who was instrumental in elevating his godson, Fubara, to the position of governor. A few months after Fubara took office, the two politicians split up over what they perceived to be Wike's excessive meddling. The allegation has not been refuted by the minister.
The lawmakers blamed internal PDP strife as the main cause of their defection to the APC, and they recently launched an ill-fated impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara.
Their leader and speaker, Martin Amaewhule, was observed waving APC flags and chanting solidarity songs with 26 other members of the House.
The political power struggle has significantly escalated as a result of the mass defection, casting doubt on the stability of the Fubara administration and the PDP's future in Rivers State.
Many claim that it is evidence of the degeneracy of the lawmakers' feud with Fubara.
This, according to observers, is the most obvious sign that the minister for the FCT may be preparing to resign.
Wike did not openly renounce his PDP membership, but he did join President Bola Tinubu's administration, which he helped to win the presidential election last February. After controversially losing the PDP presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar, he had a falling out with the party's leadership and rallied four other governors to oppose the nominee.
Rumors that Wike intended to defect to the APC had been denied in recent weeks. He recently told reporters that joining the ruling party was not his intention following a meeting with President Tinubu and a few PDP leaders.
“No, no plans, nothing like that in the offing, we are Nigerians and we have come to give the president support. That is what is required. There is no big deal about that,” Wike had said.
Political analysts claim that because all of the lawmakers are devoted to Wike, they couldn't leave the party without his permission. They observed that it was clear the former governor of Rivers was waiting to join the APC.
“What happened on Monday cannot happen without Wike ordering the lawmakers to move to APC, the body language of Wike does not show he is interested in PDP any longer; maybe he is just biding his time before moving.
“Wike may not even defect to APC, if he defects people may say he has an agenda, he can remain where he is and still be working for them,” Temitope Musowo, political analyst and scholar said.
The FCT minister might be daring the PDP, Musowo added, and the PDP should expect more from him.
APC leaders in Rivers State have been at odds over Wike's alleged move to join the party during the past few weeks.
Tony Okocha, a prominent member of the APC in Rivers State, recently implored the former governor to leave the PDP and join the APC for the benefit of the state under Tinubu's leadership.
Okocha further demanded that President Tinubu route any state appointment through Wike, claiming that the latter put forth a great deal of effort to guarantee the president's victory in the previous Rivers election.
However, Augustine Wokocha—the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council's state coordinator—argued that asking Wike to come to the state and lead the party was abnormal.
Regarding Wike's future within the party and the lawmakers from Rivers defecting, PDP members have differing opinions.
While many view the lawmakers' defection as a godsend, particularly if Wike follows them into the party, others argue that both the lawmakers' and Wike's defection would be difficult to accept because of the FCT minister's unrivaled dedication to the PDP.
“Yes, the lawmakers loyal to him could be an indication of Wike's next plan, but let us wait till he announces to the whole world by himself.
“We only hope that Governor Fubara will close ranks and make peace with all stakeholders because it is dangerous to be a Governor without having the co- operation of his lawmakers
“The Rivers minister for FCT, Wike as their leader should find a way to rally everyone together again,” Adelaja Adeoye, PDP member and political analyst, said.
Speaking on Monday about the Rivers lawmakers' defection and Wike's future in the PDP, former deputy national chairman of the party Bode George advised the FCT minister to exercise caution in his political maneuvers because they could backfire.
“My advice to Wike is that; nobody has a monopoly on political rascality, if God is on your side today, fine, but when you go and create mayhem. I would appeal to him to tread softly.
“There was a union between him and Governor Fubara and the governor regards him as his political godfather, when you have a son that does something bad as a father you give him a slap and pull him back,” George said.
The FCT minister and his supporters joining the APC would be a positive development, according to Akinloye Abiodun, the PDP's publicity secretary in Ogun State. However, he added that this would only be a short-term setback for the party.
He said, “If the former governor decides to leave the PDP for APC, it is a good development that would give us respect in the party, he has moved to where he belongs to seek fortune in his hand; it is an opportunity together.
“We wish them well. They are adults and they can determine their future; it is a temporary setback but the party will bounce back.”
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