The political realignment in Rivers State deepened on Thursday as four members of the House of Representatives formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers, three from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the Labour Party (LP), announced their defection during plenary in Abuja, where their letters were read by Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
Those who crossed over from the PDP are Awaji-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency; Boma Goodhead of Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru; and Boniface Emerengwa, who represents Ikwerre/Emohua. Manuchim Umezuruike, representing Port Harcourt I Federal Constituency, defected from the Labour Party.
In separate letters, the lawmakers attributed their decision to what they described as prolonged and unresolved leadership crises within their former parties, which they said made their continued stay untenable.
The latest defections come nine days after Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, left the PDP for the APC on December 9, 2025, a move that triggered widespread political reactions across the country.
The defecting lawmakers, widely regarded as allies of Governor Fubara during his protracted political rift with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said their decision was aimed at strengthening a new progressive political direction in Rivers State.
