Four members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State have formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the political realignment currently reshaping the state’s power structure.
The lawmakers are Manuchim Umezuruike, who represents Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency; Boniface Emerengwa of Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency; Awake-Inombek Abiante of Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency; and Boma Goodhead, who represents Asari-Toru Federal Constituency.
The four legislators are widely regarded as loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who himself defected from the PDP to the APC last week, citing political survival and gratitude to President Bola Tinubu as the driving forces behind his decision.
While announcing his own defection, Governor Fubara openly acknowledged the role President Tinubu played in his continued hold on power, stressing that his political future would have ended without presidential backing.
“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.
“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;
“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,” Fubara said.
The governor’s defection came just days after a major political shake-up in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, alongside 17 other lawmakers, abandoned the PDP for the APC on December 5. Their exit was attributed to the prolonged internal crisis rocking the PDP in the state.
Among those who earlier defected were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana); Major Jack (Akuku-Toru); Linda Stewart (Okrika); Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni); Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3); Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2); Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2); and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Other defectors included Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), Gerald Oforji (Oyigbo) and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
The growing wave of defections signals a significant weakening of the PDP’s grip on Rivers State and strengthens the APC’s influence in a state that has traditionally been a stronghold of the opposition.
What you should know
The defection of four Rivers State federal lawmakers follows Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s move to the APC, marking a major political realignment in the state.
The shift reflects deep divisions within the PDP and growing consolidation of power around the APC ahead of future elections.
With both state and federal legislators changing allegiance, the balance of political control in Rivers State is rapidly tilting, raising questions about party loyalty, governance stability and the long-term impact on opposition politics in the South-South region.
