Loyalists to the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi within the crisis-ridden People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have declared their resolve to boycott the party’s special national convention slated for Abuja this weekend.
The constitutional delegates led by Chairman of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly, Honourable Asita made their intentions known in a media briefing in the state’s capital, Port Harcourt.
The news conference was also attended by Dakuku Peterside (Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency), Ogbonna Nwuke (Etche/Omuma), Blessing Nsiegbe (Port Harcourt 2), Morris Pronen (Khana/Gokana), Barry Mpigi (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo) and Bright Gogo (Okrika-Ogu/Bolo).
Asita affirmed that two of the three senators and 10 House of Representatives members from the state were staunchly in support of the move, noting that the group has been observing the gradual disintegration of the party in the past months with deep as it is gradually degenerating into a shameful association constituting people without character.
“I am aware that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also have supported this boycott. The 23 council chairmen of Rivers State, who are delegates to the convention, have also agreed to this boycott, as well as the party chairmen of the 23 local government areas, who are equally delegates to the convention. We also have with us members of the state executive council, who are also entitled as delegates to the convention to vote at the convention.
Asita further stated: “We are worried that the leadership of the party at the centre refuses to take credible steps that will reposition the party in Rivers State, to enable it to control the support that it has enjoyed from inception.
“We are indeed worried about the rascality in which the activities of the party are carried out in Rivers State. We are aware that the mini convention of the party is on Saturday. We had hoped that the party at the centre would take steps to put things right over what our party in recent times gliding into disrepute.
“We have, as the duly elected delegates to the national convention of the party, by virtue of our offices, come to the conclusion that because the party at the centre has failed in its duties to put the party right in Rivers State, especially the illegal and unconstitutional suspension of our leader, the governor of Rivers State, we believe that the best thing to do in the circumstance, in solidarity with our governor, is to boycott the convention for Saturday”, he further explained the group’s stance.
“We believe that this is the best thing to do. So, we have interacted with the different delegates to the convention. I am speaking as the Chairman of the National Assembly Caucus of Rivers State and I have interacted with members of the National Assembly. Ten members of the House of Representatives and two Senators support this boycott.
“We understand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that those who are entitled to participate and vote at this convention are those who were so qualified at the last convention.
“We, therefore, state that anybody who claims to represent Rivers State at the convention is not representing us, because we have decided to boycott the convention, in solidarity with our governor, who by virtue of the illegal suspension, is unable to attend the convention.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Rivers State PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, described the Amaechi’s caucus being frustrated and that the boycott was not unexpected.
Obuah who said the era of impunity and imposition of candidates was gone, reacted to the situation in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam.
He noted that the in view of the way and manner Amaechi and his followers have been carrying on, with no regard for party rules and regulations it was expected that the group would shun important party activities.
However, Asita also stated that any Obuah’s associates, who decide to attend the convention on Saturday, should be regarded as impostors of the authentic delegates of the PDP from the state.
At the news conference, Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning Tammy Danagogo spoke on behalf of the members of the Executive Council.
The representative of Gokana Constituency in the House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor, spoke on behalf of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Amaechi.
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, Chimbiko Iche Akarolo, who is also the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government, spoke on behalf of the 23 council chairmen.
The Publicity Secretary of the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive of the PDP in Rivers State, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, spoke on behalf of the leadership of the party, while the chairmen of the PDP in the 23 local government areas was represented by Daere Samuel-Horsfall of Asari-Toru Local Government Area.