Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) exercised their constitutional right to do so.
Wike stated this on Friday while briefing journalists after inspecting the ongoing construction of an interchange bridge linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarimpa in Abuja.
During plenary earlier on Friday, 16 lawmakers — led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule — announced their defection from the PDP, citing divisions within the party. Amaewhule said he had joined the APC to “work with Mr President,” whom he praised for his commitment to the nation’s progress.
Reacting to the development, Wike described the mass defection as “unfortunate,” blaming it on internal crises plaguing the PDP.
“I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, members are allowed to leave,” he said.
Wike noted that not all lawmakers abandoned the party, adding that the PDP still retains about 10 members in the 27-member Assembly. He said his political camp would continue working with those who chose to remain.
“I’m still in the PDP. Those who have remained, we will continue to work together. I have told the party to put its house in order because, at the end of the day, if they don’t, it is the party that will lose,” he added.
The former Rivers State Governor urged the PDP to reunite its ranks and strengthen its position as a credible opposition, stressing that the lawmakers who left made their decision independently.
“For me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together,” Wike said.
