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Rivers’ crises deepens as police take over PDP secretariat

 

…Party breaks into factions as parallel leaderships emerge

. As Ondo PDP pulls out of Saturday’s local government election

DAMISI OJO,Akure

Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt

The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday took a new twist as the Acting Chairman of the party, Hon. Robinson Ewor, and the ex-Chairman of the party in the state engaged in war of words.

This is just as the new leadership of the PDP in the state led by Acting Chairman, Robinson Ewor at a press briefing in Port Harcourt vowed to discipline or sack members of the party found guilty of anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections in line with the party’s constitution.

Ewor announced plans by the leadership of the party in the state to set up a disciplinary committee to address anti-party activities, particularly during the 2023 general elections.

He emphasized the party’s commitment to upholding its supremacy, implementing its manifesto and constitution, and working with the national leadership.

He said: “We shall also in the next few days set up a disciplinary committee to deal with issues anti party activities especially during the 2023 general elections and beyond and every other activities by party members that are capable of bring the party to disrepute.

“Those that are found wanting shall be disciplined appropriately including but not limited to suspension, sacking and sanctions that are known to the party Constitution.

“The party is supreme, we shall uphold the supremacy of the party. We shall implement the manifestos if the party and Constitution.”

Responding in a separate press conference on Thursday, former Rivers PDP Chairman whose executive was recently sacked by the court, Aaron Chukwuemeka, insisted that his executive was duly elected and that he remains the Chairman.

Chukwuemeka denied allegations of anti party activities and reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP.

Reacting to the recent court ruling that sacked him and other party executives, he claimed that they were not party to the suit and were not aware of who represented them in court, and described the judgment as “not executory” and vowed to appeal it.

The sacked Rivers PDP Chairman urged the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to allow peace to reign in the state and to stop fomenting trouble for the party.

He said, “This is our office, we have taken possession and we can not leave here, whatever court judgement they have gotten we are going to appeal it. We will follow the due processes and ensure that there is peace and order in the state.

“We need peace in Rivers State, and we cannot continue to file one litigation after another. We are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, and we will not be intimidated by those who seek to undermine our party.”

Meanwhile, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command Thursday afternoon took over the premises of the PDP secretariat along Port Harcourt – Aba Road in the State.

Heavy security presence was witnessed around the party secretariat, as the police, in a bid to avert clash from both factions of the party, deployed men to the secretariat to prevent breakdown of law and order.

The development we gathered, followed moves by the new leadership of the party in the state, led by Robinson Ewor to take over the party secretariat on Thursday after an interlocutory injunction of a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which sacked former Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, and other members of his executive from acting as excos of the party.

The Acting Chairman, Ewor, who had announced on Wednesday that his faction will implement the judgement by taking over the party secretariat on Thursday, told newsmen that the plan was aborted to maintain peace and avoid a breakdown of law and order.

According to Ewor, security agencies had advised the party to shelve its plans to take over the secretariat, as they were already on ground to prevent any potential violence, and the advice was heeded in line with the peaceful disposition of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has earned accolades for his approach to issues.

He called on the national leadership of PDP to recognize Governor Fubara as the leader of the party in the state and to work with the new leadership at the state, local government, and ward levels.

He appealed to party supporters and faithful to remain calm, assuring that the party is taking necessary steps to take possession of the secretariat.

He said: “A very recent development, the security agencies being aware of the our position to take back the Secretariat of our party today, in the quest to maintain peace, has advised that we shave the process as they are currently on ground at the party secretariat to prevent possible breakdown of law and order.

“It is on this note and online with the peaceful deposition of the leader of our party in the state, Siminalayi Fubara, to issues of this nature which has earned him several accolades that we have resolved to allow good reasoning to prevail and call off the plan to take over party secretariat today.

“We are also appealing to our teeming supporters and party faithfuls across the state to remain calm as we are taking necessary steps to take possession of our party secretariat.”

.Ondo PDP’ Pulls Out of Saturday Local Government Elections.

 

Meanwhile, The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state on Thursday announced its withdrawal from the next saturday local government election in the Sunshine State.

The party’s decision was contained in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Leye Igbabo.

The PDP’s withdrawal according to the statement affected all 15 Chairmanship candidates and 131 Councillorship candidates it had fielded for the election.

The party hinged its decision on loss of confidence in the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).

According to the PDP, “ODIEC’s lack of transparency, impartiality, and credibility has compromised the integrity of the election process.

“Recent observations and reports point to a troubling pattern of double standards by ODIEC, raising serious doubts about their ability to conduct a free, fair, and credible election,”

“This latest development adds a new layer of complexity to Ondo State’s political climate, as the PDP’s withdrawal could significantly alter the dynamics of the local elections.

“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which controls the state government, now appears to have a clearer path to dominate the polls.

“The PDP’s withdrawal also underscores growing concerns about electoral integrity in Nigeria’s democratic process. As one of the nation’s major opposition parties, the PDP’s decision highlights the party’s stance against what it perceives as a flawed system.

“As a responsible political party committed to democracy and the rule of law, we cannot, in good conscience, confer legitimacy on this compromised process by participating in the election,”

Observers and political analysts are however ruminating on the potential impact of this decision on the PDP’s future in Ondo State,saying”Will the party’s decision galvanize public support against what it has termed a compromised electoral process, or will it lead to diminished influence at the grassroots level?.

The PDP consequently assured its supporters and the people of Ondo State that its commitment to electoral reform and democratic principles remains unwavering,noting that “its bold move will spark discussions on the future of local governance in Ondo State and the larger implications for Nigeria’s democratic process.

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