The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after 16 Rivers State lawmakers defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in Abuja on Friday following an inspection of road projects, Wike said the lawmakers did not inform him of their decision but showed that they were within their rights to switch parties. He stressed that the defections did not amount to a total collapse of the state PDP, noting that roughly 10 of the 27 lawmakers stayed loyal to the party.
The lawmaker who led the defection, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, told the Assembly plenary that division within the PDP prompted his move and expressed alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda. Wike described the split as regrettable and traced its roots to the party’s internal factionalism.
Wike recalled urging PDP leaders to heal divisions and warned that continued infighting is ultimately self-defeating for the party. He also pointed out that the party constitution provides room for members to leave when factional disputes make effective collaboration impossible.
Looking ahead, Wike said efforts are under way to consolidate those who remain and to ensure the PDP continues to function as a credible opposition in Rivers State.
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