Lack of governance in Rivers, reason for 27 lawmakers’ defection to APC – Okocha

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has claimed the lack of governance in the state is the reason for the defection of 27 members of the state Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The Chairman of APC, Rivers State Caretaker Committee, Tony Okocha, while addressing journalists on Monday in Port Harcourt, said some lawmakers in the state confided in him.

Some 27 Rivers State lawmakers had on Monday defected to the APC from the PDP.

The lawmakers, who defected from the PDP to the APC, are those under the faction of the embattled Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Reacting to the development, Okocha described the defection of the former PDP state lawmakers as “heaven’s gains” for the APC.

Okocha who is also the Rivers State representative at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Management Board, noted that the party in the state has been officially communicated on the defection of the lawmakers to the party.

He said, “We have invited you this evening to indeed convey our boundless joy over what I call heaven’s gains that we benefited from as a party.

“Today, we received 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members all of PDP porting to our dear party, the All Progressives Congress on the floor of the Assembly.

“Initially it seemed like a rumor, yet we saw them flaunt APC flags but we have been officially communicated on that move and we felt that it is not a thing that on our own, we will discuss over a bottle of water.

“We felt we should let Nigerians know what has happened, and the good thing that has happened, happened for APC Rivers State.”

Okocha commended the defected Assembly members.

He said 27 lawmakers cannot equate with four lawmakers.

The APC CTC Chairman said it is unacceptable for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to give credence to only four Assembly members over 27, noting that, “We have gone past the era of 16 being above 19. I hope you remember that era where 16 was deemed to be higher than 19.

“And again, the Assembly members who have defected, had confided in me that leadership/governance in Rivers State has been run aground, that there is no government in Rivers State.”

Okocha said the current administration in the state was built on the ground of “consolidation and continuity” but noted that the actions of the governor (Fubara), is in “complete aberration” of the initial plan.

He added that nothing is happening in the state, saying, “There is hunger in the land”.

According to Okocha, the defection of the 27 lawmakers will play the role of checks and balances in the government, adding that this is the best decision the lawmakers took, despite some people saying it came late.

He said, “We commend them and we receive them with open arms.”