By Yusuf Adua
The atmosphere of the Rivers state chapter of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC has remained toxic as different factions lock horns to take control of the party leadership ahead of the next general elections.
News Live Nigeria understands that less than two weeks ago, a faction of the party in Rivers State led by one Abott Ogbobula, a loyalist of Transportation Minister and former Governor of the state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, had inaugurated a Caretaker Committee for the party.
But yesterday, Igo Aguma leader of another faction of the party loyal to Senator Magnus Abe also unveiled new sets of partymen as Caretaker Committees in Port Harcourt.
Significantly, the inauguration was held at “Freedom House”, on Evo Road, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, Campaign headquarters of Senator Abe who was the former Senator representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Igo Aguma, who claimed to be Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman, APC, Rivers state inaugurated the Caretaker Committees.
A day before the inauguration of the factional Caretaker Committee, Aguma has seconded Abe to warn that APC in Rivers State to avoid a repeat of mistakes that led to the exclusion of the party from the ballot in Rivers State during the 2019 general election.
Aguma, who felt that Ogbobula and the transport minister are disobedient to court orders which recognises his faction of the party, blamed Amaechi for playing ‘” God Father” role in the party amounting to its loss.
Meanwhile, our correspondent who has been monitoring the development reported that Ogbobula was only one recognised by the National Executive Council of the party inaugurated at the party’s Secretariat in Abuja and not Aguma.
It would catch all minds by surprise when Mr. Aguma threw out a press statement signed by his media aide, Livingston Weche, where he addressed himself Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman, and directed the inauguration of the Caretaker Committees for other levels of the party.
He did point out during the controversial inauguration that there was a June 9, 2020 court judgment in which he was declared the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers State adding that the court also declared that his committee should also include all statutory members of the party as members of its executive.
He also a asked the Local Government Caretaker Committees to inaugurate the Ward Caretaker Committees by this weekend. He further charged the Local Government Caretaker Committees to go back to their various Wards and make peace with every aggrieved member of the Party.
While thanking the “Freedom House” for allowing APC Rivers use their facility for the inauguration, he revealed that at the end of the reconciliation efforts in the state, the State Executive Committee and stakeholders will agree on the hiring of an APC Rivers secretariat because there is none at the moment.
He also ordered that all factional offices of the APC in Rivers state to remain closed while commending the Senator Magnus Abe faction for closing down their factional APC Secretariat, he called on His Excellency Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi’s faction to comply by closing down their factional Secretariat at 65 Aba Road Port Harcourt.
We await reaction from the Ameachi’s camp.
