By Ayo Kehinde
The crisis rocking the Rivers state branch of the All Progressives Congress, APC, worsened on Monday when the Igo Aguma-led faction suspended the Minister of Transportation and former Governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, from the party.
The suspension was prompted by a similar action by the Amaechi’s group of the party, which, at the weekend suspended Senator Magnus Abe, Igo Aguma, Livingstone Wechie, Wogu Boms and all caretaker committee leaders inaugurated by Aguma.
The Igo Aguma faction went further to write the Rivers State Electoral Commission, RISIEC,that it was ready to participate in the upcoming local government polls in the state.
Livingstone Wechie, media aide to Aguma, said the decision to suspend Amaechi from the party was taken at an extraordinary Executive meeting presided over by Aguma in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
He said the State Executive Caretaker Committee ratified the recommendation of the State Disciplinary Committee of the party, which looked into the decision of the ward and local government chapters to suspend Amaechi, who hails from Ward 8, Ikwerre Local Government Area for anti-party activities.
According to him; “The State Executive Committee also accepted and ratified the decision of the State Disciplinary Committee to uphold the indefinite suspension of Isaac Ogbobula by the Ward 10 and LGA Executive of Ahoada-East Local Government Area of Rivers State. Isaac Ogbobula is hereby suspended indefinitely from APC Rivers.
“The state chairman briefed the executive committee meeting that he received communication from the APC executive of Gokana LGA to the effect that both Ward 16, Bera and the Gokana LGA chapters of the party have expelled Chief Victor Giadom from the APC as well as a report from Emohua LGA chapter that both Ward 4 and Emohua Local Government chapter of the party in Rivers State has suspended Senator Chief Andrew Uchendu from the APC.
“The executive committee referred both reports from Emohua and Gokana Local Government Areas on Chief Victor Giadom and Senator Andrew Uchendu to the State Disciplinary Committee for further action in line with Article 21 of APC Constitution.”
The APC in Rivers have been crisis-ridden since the 2019 general elections, polarised by two strong personalities represented by the Minister, Ameachi and Senator Abe.
