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Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement was made during plenary on Friday, where Amaewhule declared that the lawmakers were leaving the PDP due to what he described as a “division” within the party. He told colleagues he had already notified his ward chairman of his departure and completed the process of joining the APC.

“Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time,” he said. “But as I speak today, I am a member of the All Progressives Congress. I am happy to be a member of APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. Mr President is doing so much for this country.”

Amaewhule praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, saying the President “means well for Nigeria’’ and had shown “love to Rivers State.” He said supporting the President from within the APC had now become a priority for the defecting lawmakers, insisting that persistent internal crises in the PDP made it impossible for them to remain.