Six Rivers PDP lawmakers defect to APC

Six members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

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The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the defections during Tuesday’s plenary.

The lawmakers are Dumnamene Dekor (Khana/Gokana), Solomon Bob (Abua-Odual/Ahoada East), Cyril Hart (Degema/Bonny), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni), Blessing Chigeru (Port Harcourt II) and Felix Nweke (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai).

In separate letters read on the floor of the House, the lawmakers attributed their decision to what they described as deepening internal crises, leadership disputes and irreconcilable divisions within the PDP. They also cited the need to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The defections further strengthen the APC’s numbers in the lower chamber and come amid ongoing political realignments in Rivers State.

Last Thursday, four other House members from Rivers State – Awaji Inombek, Boma Goodhead, Manuchim Umezurike and Boniface Emerengwa had also announced their defection from the PDP and Labour Party to the APC.

The developments followed the recent defection of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the APC, signalling what observers describe as a coordinated shift by his political allies.

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Mr Fubara, a former PDP governor, joined the APC after prolonged disputes with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over control of the PDP structure in Rivers State. The crisis has triggered a wave of defections across the state’s political landscape.

With the latest exits, only three PDP lawmakers from Rivers State remain in the House: the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, Kelechi Nwogu and Kenneth Chikere.

Minority leaders raise constitutional objections

The defections were immediately challenged on the floor of the House by the Minority Whip, Ali Jesse, and the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who raised constitutional concerns.

Speaking on a point of order, Mr Jesse cited Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, which provides that a lawmaker shall vacate his seat if he defects from the party that sponsored his election, except in cases of division or merger.

“I am speaking on behalf of the minority under the Constitution,” Mr Jesse said. “A member of the House whose election was sponsored by a political party shall vacate his seat if he becomes a member of another party before the expiration of his term.”

He expressed surprise at the decision of some of the defecting lawmakers, noting that Mr Bob, a lawyer, was fully aware of the constitutional provisions.

“I am confident he will do the honourable thing before the Speaker is compelled to declare his seat vacant,” he added.

On his part, Mr Chinda argued that the defection ceremony conducted on the floor of the House should be expunged from the official records.

“I challenge anyone to show me any law that requires a member to come to the floor of the House to announce a defection,” he said. “There is no such law. If anyone wants to move, you have a constitutional right, but you must go back to your people and take the necessary steps.”

He added that such announcements diminished the integrity of Parliament.

Speaker defends procedure

Responding, Speaker Tajudeen dismissed the objections, insisting that there was nothing unconstitutional about lawmakers informing the House of their change of party affiliation.

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“There doesn’t have to be a law,” Mr Tajudeen said. “Any member who is changing party has the right to inform the House. Informing colleagues is not an offence.”

He added, in a light-hearted remark, “If we decide to make it a little bit colourful, there is nothing wrong with that.”

The Speaker concluded by welcoming more defections from the opposition, saying the House looked forward to “more members of the PDP family joining us.”