Political tension in Rivers State heightened on Thursday night following claims that members of the Amaewhule-led faction of the State House of Assembly may announce their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as early as Friday morning.
Multiple sources say the move is part of a strategic bid by the lawmakers to reposition themselves amid shifting political calculations at the national level.
According to insiders circulating the reports, the planned switch is allegedly being coordinated by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is said to be working to reinforce his political relevance amid concerns over waning influence within the presidential circle.
Insiders pushing this narrative claim the presidency has begun reassessing Wike’s electoral value after realising that his political hold on Rivers State may not be as ironclad as previously believed. They argue that recent events have revealed multiple interest groups within the state distancing themselves from the former governor, weakening the perception of his dominance.
Additionally, those advancing this story allege that the presidency now views Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a potentially more reliable electoral asset in the long run. According to them, this shifting calculation has rattled Wike’s inner circle, prompting fears that Fubara himself may be considering a future political realignment—including, according to these sources, a possible move toward the APC.
It is this fear, they say, that is allegedly driving the Amaewhule group to pre-emptively defect to retain relevance and to demonstrate continued usefulness to national power brokers.
While none of these claims have been verified, and no official announcement has been made by the legislators or the APC, the rumour mill in Port Harcourt is in overdrive tonight.
Political watchers note that if such a coordinated defection occurs, it would mark one of the most consequential upheavals in Rivers politics since the escalation of tensions between Wike and the governor.
