FCT Minister Wike Justifies Mass Defection of 17 Pro-Wike Lawmakers, Citing ‘Fully Factionalised’ PDP as Constitutional Basis

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, today, Friday, December 5, 2025, weighed in on the mass defection of Rivers State House of Assembly members, declaring that the defected lawmakers were “free to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).” Wike made the statement while addressing journalists in Abuja, shortly after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects. The confirmation followed a dramatic session at the Rivers Assembly where 16 to 17 lawmakers, including the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, formally announced their defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justifying the controversial political move, which significantly escalates the ongoing power struggle between his faction and that of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike cited the Constitution. He stated, “The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, they are allowed to leave the party.” The Minister, who has been openly backing the lawmakers in their face-off with the Governor, described the defection as “unfortunate” but insisted that the decision was a direct consequence of the internal crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.

Despite the mass exit of his allies, Wike maintained that he remains a member of the PDP and vowed to continue working with the remaining 10 or 11 lawmakers still loyal to the party. He stressed that the PDP National Working Committee must “put its house in order,” warning that continued internal disarray would be to the party’s detriment. The defection, which effectively hands the APC a supermajority in the state assembly, is viewed by political analysts as a severe blow to the PDP’s political control in Rivers State.