Six lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the house of representatives have formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers are Dumnamene Dekor, who represents Khana/Gokana, Solomon Bob of Abua/Odual and Ahoada east, and Hart Cyril from Degema/Bonny.
Also listed are Victor Obuzor representing Ahoada west/Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni, Blessing Amadi of Port Harcourt II, and Felix Nweke from Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai.
The development comes shortly after Siminalyi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, announced his departure from the PDP to the APC on December 5, 2025.
Earlier, 15 members of the Rivers state house of assembly, including Martin Amaewhule, the speaker, had also exited the PDP for the APC.
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, announced the defections by reading the lawmakers’ letters during Wednesday’s plenary.
Senior APC officials, including Victor Gaidam, national vice-chairman, south south; Felix Morka, national spokesperson; Dayo Israel, national youth leader; and Ajibola Basiru, national secretary, were present during the announcement.
After the defection was read, Abbas invited the lawmakers to the dais for photographs.
Ali Isa objected to the development and urged Abbas to declare the seats of the defecting lawmakers vacant.
Kingsley Chinda, minority leader, also opposed the brief ceremony conducted to mark the defections.
He argued that the ceremony should be removed from the votes and proceedings of the plenary, saying there is no law requiring lawmakers to announce defections on the floor of parliament.
“Go to your ward and defect,” he said.
Abbas declined to give a ruling on the objections raised.
“Your observations are noted,” he said.
Last week, four Rivers lawmakers also defected to the APC.
They are Umezuruike Manuchim, Port Harcourt I federal constituency, who moved from the Labour Party to the APC, as well as Boniface Emerengwa, Ikwerre/Emohua federal constituency; Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni federal constituency; and Boma Goodhead, Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru federal constituency.
Following the defections, the PDP now has only three members from Rivers state in the house of representatives.
The remaining lawmakers are Kingsley Chinda; Kenneth Chikere, Port Harcourt I federal constituency; and Kelechi Nwogu, Etche/Omuma federal constituency.
