Rivers Crisis Deepens as TAF Africa Founder Condemns Lawmakers’ Defection, Warns of Fresh Unrest

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The founder of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has condemned the escalating political tension in Rivers State, branding the recent developments as “disgraceful” and a threat to democratic stability.

Epelle issued the criticism on Tuesday during an interview on The Morning Brief on Channels Television. His comments follow the defection of Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 15 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming their earlier non-defection status.

Barely three months after a peace deal brokered between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the state appears headed for yet another political showdown.

Epelle lamented that the latest manoeuvres amount to “political meandering” and an “absolute aberration of democracy,” hinting that the fallout could again burden ordinary citizens.

“They have made nonsense of the Supreme Court judgment,” he said. “Crisis is brewing again, and unfortunately, the common people will suffer it.”

He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately, warning that the situation could deteriorate into a national emergency if ignored.

“We’ve had too much of this nonsense, and it cannot continue,” he added.