Hon. Linda Somari Stewart, the lawmaker representing Okrika in the Rivers State House of Assembly, has reportedly made a U-turn on her earlier defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to reports from the south-south state, Stewart has officially returned to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).Her return to the PDP places her firmly within the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the state leader.
Recall that Stewart was among the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday.
The defectors are under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule who are all allies to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The Assembly under Amaewhule had in October served an impeachment notice on the governor and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, some members of the Assembly loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and made Edison Ehie the new Speaker.
The crisis in the 32-member Assembly had begun as a result of a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.
Though the two politicians have both attended same public events in the last few weeks and all seemed to have been settled but more drama unfolded in the state’s political arena.
On Tuesday, Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt ordered Ehie to preside over the activities of the legislative arm of the state pending the determination of a motion before it.
And on Wednesday, the governor presented the 2024 budget before the 5-member Assembly. Also, Ehie’s leadership declared the seats of the defector members vacant.
