The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the 16 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party are free to pursue their political choices.
He added that his camp would continue to work with members who chose to remain within the PDP.
Wike made the remarks on Friday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of an interchange project linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarimpa in Abuja.
Earlier in the day, 16 lawmakers, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, formally defected to the All Progressives Congress, citing divisions within the PDP.
Amaewhule told colleagues he was joining a President who “means well for the country.”
Reacting to the mass exit, Wike described the development as “unfortunate” but consistent with constitutional provisions.
He said the PDP had been “fully factionalised,” giving lawmakers the legal right to leave. “Everybody has the right to make a choice,” he said, noting that the defectors neither consulted him nor required his approval.
Despite the defections, the former Rivers governor maintained that the PDP still had a workable number in the House.
“About 16 or 17 have left out of 27. We still have around 10, and we will continue to work together,” he stated, expressing confidence in the remaining members’ ability to act as a constructive opposition bloc.
Wike emphasised that he remained committed to the PDP, urging the leadership to urgently address internal issues threatening the party’s cohesion.
He warned that failure to put the house in order would ultimately damage the party’s prospects, but affirmed that those who stayed back would continue to collaborate to strengthen the platform.
