Port Harcourt—Political tensions in Rivers State thickened last night as multiple insiders claimed that members of the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly are preparing for a dramatic early-morning defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the political actors making these claims, the lawmakers are allegedly acting under the directive of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in what sources describe as “a desperate recalibration of political survival”.
Those circulating the reports say the planned movement—expected as early as tomorrow morning barring last-minute changes—stems from what they describe as Wike’s recent slip in influence at the national level. According to these political operatives, the minister has been “feeling the heat” over what they characterise as a sudden dip in presidential confidence following a string of controversies and growing unease within key power blocs in Abuja.
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.
For now, one thing appears consistent across the various sources making these allegations:
Wike is under pressure to repair what they describe as his “now strained” relationship with the Villa—and the next 24 hours may shape the trajectory of Rivers politics for months to come.
https://authorityngr.com/2025/12/04/rivers-assembly-lawmakers-may-defect-to-apc/
