Amid ongoing political realignments, six federal lawmakers from Rivers and Bayelsa states have reportedly rejected pressure to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

From Bayelsa State, the lawmakers are Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), Fred Agbedi (Sagbama/Ekeremor), Mitema Obodor (Ogbia), and Marie Ebikake (Nembe/Brass).

In Rivers State, the legislators who declined the overture are Boma Goodhead (Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru) and Awajinombek Abiante (Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni), both known allies of the suspended state governor.

Sources say the proposed defection of suspended Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the APC is part of the conditions for his reinstatement.

Although no formal declaration has been made, the move is believed to have been tabled during recent reconciliatory efforts involving the governor and his estranged political mentor, Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

However, the Rivers APC, led by Tony Okocha, has openly opposed the governor’s entry into the party.

Reacting to the reports, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, Rivers commissioner for information and communications, denied that the suspended governor had approached any lawmaker about defecting.

“We are unaware that Governor Fubara has done anything like that. I can speak on it if you provide a link to that report,” Johnson told Leadership in Port Harcourt.

A former House of Representatives member, Ogbonna Nwuke, also dismissed the claim, saying it was “highly speculative.”

“As a former federal lawmaker, nobody has reached out to me with such a proposal,” Nwuke said.

He added that discussions around such a move would require input from key stakeholders in the state, stressing that no such consultations had taken place.

In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri is reportedly considering a switch to the APC after holding talks with influential stakeholders in the state and beyond.

Reports suggest he has secured backing from members of the state House of Assembly for the move.

During a meeting with leaders from Southern Ijaw on Saturday, Diri appeared open to the idea but said any decision would be made in consultation with the people.

He addressed the rumours during a visit to his hometown of Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, suggesting his presence at the recent Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway event might have triggered the speculation.

“If I move to the APC, I will consult with the people who elected me,” he reportedly said.

Party sources say the refusal of key federal lawmakers to join the defection has become a stumbling block.

“The Bayelsa governor is already on board in spirit. But the issue is with his predecessor and three federal lawmakers who are close to him.

“They’ve made it clear they won’t follow him to the APC,” a source at the APC national headquarters said.

The source added that two Rivers lawmakers loyal to Fubara had also rejected overtures, despite offers of automatic tickets.