The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress are free to leave the Peoples Democratic Party. He stated that his political camp would continue to collaborate with the lawmakers who have remained loyal to the PDP.
Wike's Statement on Defection and Party Factionalisation
Wike made these comments on Friday, December 5th, 2025, while speaking to journalists in Abuja. He had just inspected the ongoing construction of an interchange bridge connecting the Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa districts.
"Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said that everybody has the right to make a choice," Wike stated. He explained that the party is currently fully factionalised, and constitutional provisions allow members to leave under such circumstances. "You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right," he added.
Wike's Position and Call for Party Order
The former Governor of Rivers State clarified that he remains a member of the PDP. He used the opportunity to urge the party's leadership to resolve its internal conflicts to prevent further losses.
"I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll continue to work together," Wike affirmed. "And I have said to the party, put your house in order. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that will lose."
He revealed that he had advised the party to work towards ensuring the remaining members form a strong opposition bloc, but this advice was not heeded. "But they chose not to. So for me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together," Wike concluded.
The Defection Event and Its Implications
The political shift occurred earlier on Friday, December 5th, during a plenary session of the State Assembly. Sixteen out of the twenty-seven lawmakers, including the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, officially announced their defection from the PDP to the ruling APC.
This mass defection significantly alters the political balance in the Rivers State House of Assembly. It leaves the PDP with a minority of about ten members, while the APC gains a substantial majority. The move is expected to have major implications for legislative proceedings and the political dynamics in Rivers State, potentially affecting governance and the alignment of state policies with the federal government's agenda.
