Six additional members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their letters of defection were read by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, during a special plenary session on the consideration of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Bills.
This comes barely a week after four other Rivers lawmakers defected to the APC. In their letters, the lawmakers attributed their decision to persistent internal divisions that, according to them, have undermined cohesion within the PDP. They also commended the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the past two years and pledged to work with the government in rebuilding the nation.
The defecting lawmakers are Dum Dekor (Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency), Solomon Bob (Ahoada East/Abua/Odual Federal Constituency), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba Federal Constituency), Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II), Felix Nweke (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency), and Hart Cyril (Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency). National leaders of the APC were admitted into the chamber to witness the defections. They include the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar; National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; and National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.
However, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, raised a point of order, insisting that defections announced on the floor of the House are not backed by law. Similarly, the Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa, argued that the defecting lawmakers risk losing their seats. Responding, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen acknowledged the observations but stated that any member who wishes to formally inform the House of a defection is free to do so at any time. With this development, only three PDP lawmakers from Rivers State remain in the House of Representatives: Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, and Hon. Anderson Igbiks.
