Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has defended the 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking to journalists during an inspection of an interchange bridge project in Abuja, Wike described the development as “unfortunate” but stressed that lawmakers have the constitutional right to make personal choices, especially when a party is factionalised.
On Friday, 17 out of 27 lawmakers in the Rivers Assembly announced their defection to the APC. Wike noted that while a significant number had left, about 10 members remain loyal to the PDP, and his camp will continue to work with them.
He explained that internal crises within the PDP contributed to the defections, urging the party to put its house in order to avoid further losses. “I’m still in the PDP. Those who remain, we’ll continue to work together. But those who have left are free to make their choice,” Wike said
