The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) did so without consulting him, despite his longstanding influence in the state’s political affairs.
Wike made the disclosure on Saturday while addressing lawmakers at the Assembly Quarters, admitting that the defection personally affected him. The former Rivers State governor is widely regarded as a key political figure in the state and a central player in the crisis that has engulfed the PDP in recent months.
On December 5, 2025, 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, formally defected from the PDP to the APC. The move significantly altered the balance of power in the legislature and further heightened political tension in the state, which had only recently emerged from a six-month period of emergency rule imposed amid intense political instability.
The situation became even more complicated shortly after the lawmakers’ defection, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara also left the PDP for the APC, deepening the leadership crisis within the former ruling party and consolidating APC’s influence in the state.
Speaking candidly, Wike acknowledged the impact of the lawmakers’ decision on him, while still expressing appreciation to the Speaker. “Let me thank you, Mr Speaker, even though it affected me with 17 of you moving out to join APC without consulting me and leaving 10 other members here,” he said.
Wike used the occasion to criticise what he described as poor internal management within the PDP at the national level, warning that failure to maintain unity and discipline could cost the party its members. He said he had repeatedly advised the party’s national leadership to put its house in order to prevent defections.
“This is what I have been advising my National Chairman: keep your house in order so that the enemies will not come and take our people,” he said. “The enemies are hovering around, and when you are not vigilant they take your people. That is why you must be at alert to make sure that enemies don’t take your people.”
The minister also directed reassuring words to the lawmakers who have remained in the PDP-dominated faction of the Assembly, pledging continued support and protection for them. He vowed that those who chose to stay would not be abandoned or subjected to hardship as a result of their political stance.
“Those of you still remaining, whenever you choose, I’m here, but what I will not do is to let you suffer in your life,” Wike added.
