The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has spoken up after a number of Rivers State lawmakers defected from PDP to APC.
Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule led a mass defection of more than 15 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress at a plenary session on Friday.
Amaewhule told colleagues he and the defecting lawmakers left the PDP because of a “clear division” in the party and to “join forces with Mr. President,” saying President Bola Tinubu’s policies had helped Rivers people.
When asked about the mass exit, FCT Minister Wike said the defecting lawmakers were free to make personal choices and defended their action. He called the situation “unfortunate” and blamed factionalism inside the PDP for the defection.
Wike made these remarks while addressing journalists on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing construction of an interchange bridge connecting Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarimpa in Abuja.
“Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said that 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.
“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 a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right,” he said.
He said he remains in the PDP, despite his recent expulsion from the party, and urged the party to put its house in order.”
