The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are free to leave, insisting that his camp will continue working with the lawmakers who remain loyal to the PDP.

Wike stated this on Friday while speaking to journalists after inspecting the ongoing construction of an interchange connecting Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa in Abuja.

On Friday, 16 lawmakers — including Speaker Martins Amaewhule — announced during plenary that they were dumping the PDP for the ruling APC, citing what they described as “clear divisions” within the party. Amaewhule said he was joining the APC to “work with Mr President,” whom he said “means well for the country.”

Reacting, Wike described the mass defection as “unfortunate,” but stressed that the PDP’s internal crisis created the conditions for their exit.

“Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, they are allowed to leave the party,” Wike said.

“You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have about 10, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right.”

The former Rivers State Governor maintained that he remains in the PDP and urged the party leadership to urgently resolve its internal rifts.

“I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll continue to work together. I have said to the party, put your house in order. Because if you don’t, it’s the party that will lose,” he said.

Wike added that while those who have defected are “free to go,” the remaining lawmakers must be supported to function as a relevant opposition in the state.

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