Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday resigned his membership of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Amaewhule left the party alongside 16 other members of the House for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Those who joined the Speaker in defecting were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2) and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Others included Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), Gerald Oforji (Oyigbo) and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
With the change of party, the APC now had 17 members, while the 10 remaining PDP members appointed Sylvanus Nwankwo of Omuma Constituency as Minority Leader.
The defectors blamed the internal crisis rocking the PDP as their main reason for leaving.
Speaking after announcing his defection, Amaewhule, who represented Obio-Akpor I Constituency, said he would do everything possible to ensure he received his APC membership card in no time.
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He declared the APC as his new party and said he was happy to join so they could “join forces with President Bola Tinubu”, whom he said was doing so much for the nation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He is tackling issues of security headlong. The President has shown love to Rivers State; he is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country.
“I am so delighted to be part of the APC so we can support the President right inside the All Progressives Congress,” the Speaker added.
