In a significant political realignment, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been hit with another major blow in Rivers State. Six members of the House of Representatives from the state have officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This move deals a severe blow to the opposition party's influence in one of Nigeria's most politically vital regions.
The Lawmakers Behind the Defection
The six federal legislators who abandoned the PDP are Dumamene Dekor, representing Khana/Gokana federal constituency; Solomon Bob of Abua/Odual and Ahoada East; Hart Cyril from Degema/Bonny; Victor Obuzor of Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni; Blessing Amadi from Port Harcourt II; and Felix Nweke of Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai. Their collective exit represents a substantial loss of federal legislative presence for the PDP in the oil-rich state.
A Cascade of Political Shifts
This latest wave of defections did not occur in isolation. It follows a series of high-profile departures from the PDP that have reshaped Rivers State's political landscape in recent weeks. The most pivotal move came on December 5, 2025, when the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, formally left the PDP for the APC.
Prior to the governor's switch, the PDP's foundation in the state legislature had already crumbled. Fifteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, crossed over to the APC. This mass exodus from the state assembly severely weakened the PDP's structural hold on governance in Rivers.
Implications for PDP and APC in Rivers
The defection of these six federal lawmakers is widely interpreted as a deepening crisis for the PDP in Rivers State. It signals a continuing erosion of the party's base and raises questions about its ability to mount a credible opposition in future elections within the state.
Conversely, the development is a massive boost for the APC. It significantly strengthens the ruling party's political grip in Rivers, a state of immense strategic importance due to its economic weight and voter population. The APC now consolidates control across the executive, state legislative, and a growing portion of the federal legislative branches representing the state.
This realignment underscores the fluid and often volatile nature of Nigerian politics, where party loyalties can shift rapidly based on evolving political calculations and alignments. The full long-term impact of these defections on the balance of power in Rivers State and at the national level remains to be seen.
