The new caretaker committee in charge of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has debunked reports linking the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to the defection of 27 members of the House of Assembly.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that 27 of the 32 Rivers State lawmakers defected from the governing Peoples Democratic Party to the opposition APC.

Hours after the Tony Okocha-led committee welcomed the 27 new converts at its party secretariat in Port Harcourt, the state capital, top party members have refuted the reports making the round that Wike must have initiated the move to unseat the current state Governor, Sim Fubara.

Reacting in an exclusive phone interview with The PUNCH, Secretary of the APC caretaker committee, Eric Nwibani, disclosed that there was no iota of truth in the viral report.

Nwibani further stated that as much as they see the defection as a welcome development, linking the former governor of Rivers to the move was a figment of the imagination of those peddling the speculation.

He said, “That is speculation. There is no truth in it and the persons who defected are still alive and can speak for themselves. Every political party is interested in numbers. You see it reflected in the defection of the Rivers House of Assembly. I am talking about 27 of them.

“If the remaining four lawmakers can come and join us, we will be very happy. We also want members of the other political parties to join us to make Rivers State better than it is today under the PDP. As I said earlier, politics is a game of numbers. We are interested in as many persons that want to join the party. We will welcome everybody.”

The acting Spokesman for Rivers APC committee, Chibuike Ikenga, also shared the sentiment of the secretary, saying the recent development was a reflection of their efforts in trying to rebuild the party after the dissolution of the former excos.

“It is a welcome development. We are happy that our ranks are being swollen by this movement. You will recall we said our doors are open to attract more purposeful and stronger elements who will help us rebuild the party ahead of the election.

“We have consulted and engaged a lot of people. With this defection, we have just started reaping the fruits,” Ikenga said.

While receiving the lawmakers at the Port Harcourt secretariat on Monday, acting State Chairman of Rivers APC, Tony Okocha, promised that the party will accord them the same respect, treatment and dignity enjoyed by every member in the state.