Title: Rivers Exodus Deepens as Six PDP Reps Dump Party for APC Date Published: 23 December 2025 Description: The political shake-up in Rivers State intensified on Wednesday as six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).The lawmakers are Dumnamere Dekor (Khana/Gokana), Solomon Bob (Abua/Odual–Ahoada East), Hart Cyril (Degema/Bonny), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni), Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt II), and Felix Nweke (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai).Their defection follows the recent political realignment in the state, coming weeks after Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, switched allegiance from the PDP to the APC on December 5, 2025. Earlier, 15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had also crossed over to the ruling party.Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defections during plenary after reading letters from the affected lawmakers.The exercise was witnessed by top APC officials, including the party’s National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Victor Gaidam; National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka; National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel; and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru. The defecting lawmakers were later invited to the dais for photographs.The ceremony, however, triggered protests on the floor. Ali Isa objected, urging the Speaker to declare the seats of the defectors vacant. Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, also faulted the process, insisting that defectors were not constitutionally required to announce their decision during plenary and that the exercise should not form part of the day’s proceedings.“Go to your ward and defect,” Chinda said.Abbas acknowledged the objections but declined to make an immediate ruling, noting that the concerns had been duly recorded.The latest defections add to those recorded last week, when Umezuruike Manuchim (Port Harcourt I) moved from the Labour Party to the APC, while Boniface Emerengwa (Ikwerre/Emohua), Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni), and Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru) also left the PDP for the APC.With the wave of defections, the PDP is now left with just three Rivers State lawmakers in the House of Representatives: Kingsley Chinda, Kenneth Chikere (Port Harcourt I), and Kelechi Nwogu (Etche/Omuma). Attached Images: 7dc4a469fb66f1d64f70f2ef1ed040dad4e78d6b55cf04922e83a81d024082a2.jpg Attached Video: None