Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the APC Rivers State Caretaker Committee, made this known during a press briefing on Monday in Port Harcourt. He revealed that some of the lawmakers had confided in him about their reasons for defecting.
The defectors, who were previously members of the PDP, are affiliated with the faction of the embattled Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, a faction that is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In response to this development, Okocha referred to the defection of the former PDP state lawmakers as “heaven’s gains” for the APC.
Okocha, who also represents Rivers State at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Management Board, confirmed that the party in the state has been officially informed about the defection of the lawmakers to the party.
He said, “We have invited you this evening to indeed convey our boundless joy over what I call heaven’s gains that we benefited from as a party.
“Today, we received 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members all of PDP porting to our dear party, the All Progressives Congress on the floor of the Assembly.
“Initially it seemed like a rumour, yet we saw them flaunt APC flags we have been officially communicated on that move and we felt that it is not a thing that on our own, we will discuss over a bottle of water.
“We felt we should let Nigerians know what has happened, and the good thing that has happened, happened for APC Rivers State.”
Okocha praised the defected Assembly members for their decision.
He argued that the number of defected lawmakers, 27, cannot be compared to just four lawmakers.
The APC CTC Chairman expressed his disapproval of Governor Siminalayi Fubara's recognition of only four Assembly members over 27, noting that, “We have gone past the era of 16 being above 19. I hope you remember that era where 16 was deemed to be higher than 19.
“And again, the Assembly members who have defected had confided in me that leadership/governance in Rivers State has been run aground, that there is no government in Rivers State.”
Okocha criticised the current administration in the state, which was established on the principle of “consolidation and continuity”, but noted that the actions of the governor (Fubara), are in “complete aberration” of the initial plan.
He added that the state is currently in a state of stagnation, saying, “There is hunger in the land”.
According to Okocha, the defection of the 27 lawmakers will serve as a system of checks and balances in the government, adding that this is the best decision the lawmakers took, despite some people saying it came late.
He said, “We commend them and we receive them with open arms.”