The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has confirmed the official defection of 17 members of the Rivers State Home of Meeting from the Peoples Democratic Get together, PDP, to the APC.
State APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent, saying he personally witnessed the event throughout Friday’s plenary session.
Based on him, the Speaker of the Home, Martin Amaewhule, who’s among the many defectors, formally introduced the lawmakers’ choice on the ground of the Meeting.
He added that every of the defecting members individually reaffirmed their defection.
Okocha defined that the lawmakers had fulfilled all constitutional necessities for defection, noting that they notified the PDP of their respective wards, engaged with stakeholders, and formally registered as members of the APC in Rivers State.
Chatting with DAILY POST, he stated: “For at this time, not less than I used to be invited. I used to be on the chamber, the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State Home of Meeting and I witnessed the announcement by the Speaker who can also be a part of people who defected, 17 of them. 17 of them truly did, which after all embrace the Speaker.
“So he made the bulletins and the people who opted to depart their former get together, the PDP to affix us within the APC, reaffirmed, reconfirmed one by every, one after the opposite.
“The factor was consummated. Central to this was the truth that they’d notified their events of their respective Wards.
“That they had spoken with the Ward chairmen, they’d spoken to stakeholders of their former get together they usually have additionally registered with the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.”
Addressing earlier reviews of a purported mass defection of the lawmakers in December 2023, Okocha clarified that the 27 lawmakers didn’t defect on the time.
He defined that he had invited the 27 lawmakers as people, shortly after assuming management of the APC in Rivers State, to strengthen the get together, however that the gesture was misinterpreted as an official defection.
“The Meeting members didn’t defect within the precise sense of the phrase. The structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered is obvious on the difficulty.”
Okocha additional acknowledged that the APC is continuous its efforts to woo the remaining lawmakers who’re but to defect.
Based on him, the PDP in Rivers State is “within the ICU,” and plenty of politicians want to align with a celebration they consider is extra secure and nationally positioned.
He stated: “So far as we’re involved as a political get together, we’re nonetheless mounting stress. PDP appears to be within the ICU as we converse.
“What President Bola Tinubu is doing for Nigeria and Nigerians can’t be swept beneath the carpet.
“He’s working, and folks wish to establish with him by becoming a member of his get together to assist develop the nation.
“I’m nonetheless speaking with others that haven’t defected. Possibly if we’re in a position to persuade them they’ll come. If we’re additionally not in a position to persuade them, it’s their choice to make.”
When requested whether or not Governor Siminalayi Fubara may also defect to the APC, Okocha responded that he doesn’t see how any politician would stay dedicated to the PDP amid its present disaster.
He pressured that the get together’s instability raises doubts about its viability in future election.
