Four members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers are Manuchim Umezuruike, who represents Port Harcourt One Federal Constituency, Boniface Emerengwa of Ikwerre Emuoha Federal Constituency, Awake Inombek Abiante of Andoni Opobo Federal Constituency, and Boma Goodhead of Asari Toru Federal Constituency.
The defections are linked to the political movement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who also left the PDP for the APC last week.
Announcing his defection, Fubara said his decision was driven by his desire to support President Bola Tinubu, whom he credited with his political survival.
“The reason why we are still standing is because of that place, and the truth is, without Mr President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been the former governor.
“So, we have every reason because the truth, let nobody be fooled in this state, we have the people, we have the supporters. Our only thank you to Mr President is to support him, and we cannot support the President in isolation;
“We cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support. So, we have taken that decision today since we have gotten the pass. Everyone here who had followed me, who had suffered with me, our decision today, this evening, we are moving to APC,” the governor said.
Fubara’s defection followed a major political shift in the state legislature. Four days earlier, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, along with 17 other lawmakers, also defected from the PDP to the APC.
The state legislators cited internal crises within the PDP as the reason for their departure. Those who defected included the Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol of Gokana, Major Jack of Akuku Toru, Linda Stewart of Okrika, Franklin Nwabochi of Ogba Egbema Ndoni, Azeru Opara of Port Harcourt Three, Smart Adoki of Port Harcourt Two, Enemi George of Asari Toru Two, and Solomon Wami of Port Harcourt One.
Others were Igwe Aforji of Eleme, Tekena Wellington of Asari Toru One, Looloo Opuende of Akuku Toru Two, Peter Abbey of Degema, Arnold Dennis of Ogu Bolo, Chimezie Nwankwo of Etche, Gerald Oforji of Oyigbo, and Ofiks Kabang of Andoni.
The wave of defections marks a significant realignment in Rivers State politics and further weakens the opposition PDP in the state.