Four members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State have left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), continuing a wave of defections tied to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent move to the ruling party.
Those who switched parties are Manuchim Umezuruike, representing Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency; Boniface Emerengwa, representing Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency; Awake-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency; and Boma Goodhead, representing Asari-Toru Federal Constituency.
The lawmakers, said to be loyal to Governor Fubara, followed his decision last week to abandon the PDP for the APC.
Fubara announced his defection during a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, explaining that the move was necessary to align with President Bola Tinubu and his administration.
“The reason why we are still standing is because of that place, and the truth is, without Mr President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; it would have been the former governor,” Fubara said.
READ ALSO: Three Kaduna PDP Reps Dump Party for APC, Cite Lingering Crisis
“So, we have every reason because the truth, let nobody be fooled in this state, we have the people, we have the supporters. Our only thank-you to Mr President is to support him, and we cannot support the President in isolation,” he added.
“We cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support. So, we have taken that decision today since we have gotten the pass.
“Everyone here who had followed me, who had suffered with me, our decision today, this evening, we are moving to APC,” he declared.
Fubara’s defection followed shortly after Rivers Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 17 members of the state legislature dumped the PDP for the APC on December 5, citing internal crises within the party.
Some of the legislators who joined the APC include Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), and Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2).
The latest round of defections deepens the political realignment in Rivers State as more PDP members rally behind Fubara and declare support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.