Following the mass defection in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defended the 17 defecting members, explaining that they are free to make personal decisions.
Wike stated this while addressing journalists on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing construction of an interchange bridge connecting Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarimpa in Abuja.
Wike stated that his camp would continue to work with the remaining lawmakers still loyal to the party.
17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday defected from the state’s ruling People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the floor of the House.
Reacting, Wike described the development as “unfortunate,” adding that the party’s internal crisis contributed to the lawmakers’ exit.
“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.
The former Rivers State Governor also stated that he remained in the PDP, urging the party to put its house in order.
“I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll continue to work together. And I have said to the party, put your house in order. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that will lose.
“And we still ask the party to work together to see how the remaining members will be a relevant opposition. But they chose not to. So for me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together,” he added.
