Rivers Crisis: 2 ‘Defected’ Lawmakers Now Undecided

Two of the 27 Rivers House Of Assembly lawmakers that defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday have distanced themselves from the defection act.

  Tonye Adoki, a member representing Port Harcourt Constituency II, and Linda Somiari Stewart representing Okrika Constituency yesterday said they are undecided on their next line of action and are yet to join any political party.

It was learnt that they have also apologised to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Meanwhile, the federal government has washed its hands off the ongoing political crisis rocking Rivers State, saying it should not be held responsible for the feud between the minister of the federal capital territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja.

He maintained that the federal government had no hand in creating the crisis which has seen the FCT minister and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly pitted against Governor Fubara.

On account of the crisis, 27 of the lawmakers had announced their defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading their seats being declared vacant by the Legislature.

The minister said the position adopted by Wike on the crisis is not shared by the federal government.

He said, “Well, he is a federal cabinet member; he is involved in the situation in the state – that cannot be a federal government position.”

Idris stressed that the federal government is keen to ensure peace and tranquility in every part of the country, including Rivers.

“Well, the federal government is always interested in the well being of all the states, and in that direction the federal government will always align with everyone in Nigeria to make sure that there is peace and tranquility in all parts of this country.

“But you know that what has happened in Rivers is not a creation of the federal government. It is a political problem that is brewing in the state.

“Of course, the government will ensure that there is peace and stability for all Nigerians including River State, but you can’t say that this is a creation of the federal government. The federal government never had any hand in creating that problem.”

On the allegation raised by Asari Dokubo, accusing President Bola TInubu of ignoring the festering crisis in Rivers State, the government’s spokesman noted that what the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force said is only advisory.

“I saw Asari Dokubo’s message. It was an advisory. He made an advisory. And when you make an advisory, you allow time to see whether the person you have given the advice will look at it again and come back to you. That does not suggest anything. That doesn’t suggest that the federal government created that problem.”

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its national legal adviser to commence legal action to declare vacant the seats of the 25 members of Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party also said it will formally write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) informing it of the vacancies in the state assembly and demand the commission to conduct fresh elections in the 25 constituencies within the constitutionally stipulated time.

These were the resolutions reached by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 580th meeting yesterday in Abuja, as disclosed by the national publicity secretary of the party, Hon Debo Ologunagba.