The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has just announced the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi from the party.
This was contained in a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, although details are being awaited.
Amaechi and the Presidency have been engaged in a long-running battle for months which has been linked to intrigues ahead of the 2015 presidential elections, where he is being touted as the running mate to possible candidate, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
The clashes had become more intense with the controversy over the ownership and grounding of a private jet belonging to the Rivers State government a month ago by agencies of the Federal Government.
Amaechi has also been involved in the controversy surrounding the election of a new chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Friday, in which he ran for re-election after the expiration of his two-year tenure.
While 18 governors, mostly from opposition parties and a few rebellious PDP governors, declared Amaechi the winner in the election, surprise candidate Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State emerged the leader of the 16-member faction of the NGF, christened Forum of Nigerian Governors.
It is expected that Amaechi will challenge his suspension in court, and might be the final move that will push him out of the party and into the arms of the newly-formed mega-opposition All Progressives’ Congress (APC).