The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has officially rejected the claims of 27 members of the State House of Assembly who asserted that they had defected to the party. These lawmakers, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, were initially elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their purported defection comes in the wake of internal disputes between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former mentor, Nyesom Wike.
In a report by Leadership, Chief Tony Okocha, the former chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers State, addressed this issue in a recent press conference in Port Harcourt. He clarified that the APC does not recognize the lawmakers as members of their party, despite their announcements of defection. Okocha emphasized that while the APC had made efforts to engage these lawmakers amidst the ongoing conflicts within the PDP, there was no formal acknowledgment of their transition to the APC.
Okocha elaborated that despite attempts to attract these lawmakers to the APC, no official steps had been taken by them to join the party. This lack of formal record regarding their defection has led the APC leadership to maintain its stance. Okocha expressed his belief that had the lawmakers genuinely defected, it would have been a beneficial development for the APC.
The former chairman reiterated that the situation remains unchanged, as the lawmakers have consistently stated that they do not consider themselves members of the APC. He expressed confusion over their claims of defection, given their public declarations against joining the party. Okocha underscored the importance of official records in validating such transitions.
He further emphasized that the APC’s approach has been to court the lawmakers, recognizing the internal crises they face within the PDP. Okocha stated that the APC sees potential in these lawmakers but remains firm in the absence of any official defection. Okocha confirmed that, from his position of authority within the party, there is no documentation or evidence to support the lawmakers’ claims of joining the APC.
According to him, “I am speaking to you in all authority that they never defected to the All Progressives Congress. There is no record. At least, I am in charge; it would have been joy for me that they came over. They didn’t.”
Peoplesmind