Two members of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, confirmed their defection. He announced the news in a letter read during Wednesday’s plenary session.

Reasons for Defection: Internal PDP Crisis

One of the defecting lawmakers, Ambaiowei, explained his decision. He cited the ongoing internal crisis within the PDP. He added that this defection became necessary for effective representation of his constituency.

Ambaiowei elaborated on the situation. He stated, “This decision stems from the division within the national leadership of the PDP. This crisis has spread across party structures and chapters. It created confusion regarding which faction manages party affairs.”

He continued, “This uncertainty has made it difficult to perform my role. It also hinders my ability to effectively represent my constituency.”

Similarly, the other lawmaker, Oforji, also left the PDP. He pointed to the prolonged leadership crisis as his reason. Despite his departure, Oforji expressed deep gratitude to the party that elected him to parliament.

Rivers State Governor Fubara’s Recent Move

This development follows a similar political shift in Rivers State. Governor Siminalayi Fubara officially defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.

Reports suggest this was a strategic move. It aimed to pre-empt his estranged predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The goal was to take control of the APC structure in the oil-rich state.

Governor Fubara announced his defection at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt. This move was confirmed as a calculated political manoeuvre. It followed his private meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Monday.

During his announcement, Governor Fubara publicly acknowledged President Tinubu’s intervention. He stated it was the sole reason he survived recent political turmoil. This crisis had briefly suspended his government.