Six PDP House of rep members defect to APC

Six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the house of representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers include Dumnamere Dekor (Khana/Gokana federal constituency), Solomon Bob (Abua/Odual and Ahoada east federal constituncy), Hart Cyril (Degema/Bonny federal constituency), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada west/Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni federal constituency), Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt II federal constituency) and Felix Nweke (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai federal constituency).

Their defection follows that of Siminalyi Fubara, governor of the state, who swapped the PDP for the APC on December 5, 2025.

A week before the governor’s defection, 15 members of the Rivers state house of assembly, including Martin Amaewhule, the speaker, had dumped the PDP for the APC.

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read the letters of the lawmaker’s defection during plenary on Wednesday.

APC national officers, including Victor Gaidam, national vice-chairman (south south), Felix Morka, national spokesperson; Dayo Israel, national youth leader; and Ajibola Basiru, national secretary, witnessed the defection.

After the defection, Abbas invited the lawmakers to the dais for photographs.

Ali Isa protested the defection, asking Abbas to declare their seats vacant.

Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, kicked against the brief defection ceremony.

He said the ceremony should be expunged from the vote and proceedings of the day’s plenary, noting that no laws require lawmakers to announce their defection on the floor of parliament.

“Go to your ward and defect,” he said.

Abbas declined to rule on the objections.

“Your observations are noted,” he said.

Last week, four Rivers members defected to the APC.

The lawmakers are Umezuruike Manuchim (Port Harcourt I federal constituency), who defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC, while Boniface Emerengwa (Ikwerre/Emohua federal constituency), Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni federal constituency), and Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru federal constituency).

With the defection, the PDP now has only three members from Rivers in the house of representatives: Chinda; Kenneth Chikere (Port Harcourt I); and Kelechi Nwogu (Etche/Omuma).