Seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, on Friday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the latest round of political tensions in the state.
Amaewhule announced the decision during plenary, attributing the mass defection to what he called a “clear division” within the PDP.
The development comes just a day after fresh cracks emerged between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Assembly, barely two months after emergency rule was lifted and democratic structures restored in Rivers State.
During its 31st Legislative Sitting, the Assembly criticised the worsening state of public schools, accusing the executive of neglect despite what lawmakers said was over N600 billion left in the state’s coffers by former Sole Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (rtd).
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Speaker Amaewhule faulted the administration for failing to act on the House Committee on Education’s report, describing conditions in many primary and secondary schools as “deplorable” and alleging the government prioritised funding protests over hiring teachers.
The Speaker also questioned the stalled recruitment of 10,000 workers initiated by the previous administration.
Government Can Only Employ Workers Based On Needs – Fubara
Governor Fubara, however, dismissed the lawmakers’ accusations, saying his government would only employ workers based on actual needs, not political pressure. Addressing traditional rulers on Monday, he said the deterioration in the education sector predated his tenure and that ongoing projects in health and infrastructure reflected his administration’s priorities.
On Wednesday, the Assembly passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to seek re-election in 2027 and pledging loyalty through FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a move that sparked widespread criticism on social media.
Political observers say the latest events signal a fresh breakdown in the fragile peace brokered after months of political turmoil that led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the Assembly earlier in the year.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
