Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara, Monday summoned an emergency executive meeting to strategise on how to counter 27 Rivers assembly members that defected to the All Progress Congress.
The members who are acting the script of former governor and Minister for Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike who has been on daggers drawn with his protegee over how best to run the affairs of the State.
“Let me tell you, you have 31 members in the House of Assembly; 27 are against you,” Wike had boasted last month while speaking on the logjam.
The lawmakers had renounced their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party and declared for the APC. The lawmakers said to be under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, the assembly speaker and Mr Wike’s ally, announced their defection during the plenary session on Monday.
In their defection letters, the lawmakers alleged that Fubara starved them of funds. They also cited division in the PDP as the reason for their defection to APC.
The 32-member house had been divided into two factions since October following the impeachment of majority leader Edison Ehie.
While Mr Amaewhule is leading members loyal to the FCT minister, lawmakers loyal to Mr Fubara chose Mr Ehie as their own speaker.
The political drama continued to unfold as the assembly, under the rulership of Mr Amaewhule, served an impeachment notice on the governor.
Fubara vs Wike