Date Published: 08/24/10

Amaechi's PDP vs Sekibo's New PDP by Ndukwe Oby Christy

Who wins the battle? Will Nwodo succumb?

There seems to be an uneasy calm within the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State chapter with the recent efforts by the group based in Abuja to call for the dissolution of  the Party Exco headed by the former Vice Chairman South South, Chief G.U. Ake. In an advertorial placed in This Day Newspaper on Thursday, August 5, 2010, Vol.15, No.5583, Page 45 by the aggrieved group and signed by former Minister and Secretary to the Government, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia, former Deputy Speaker-Chief Austin Opara and three others, the group of self-acclaimed aggrieved founding fathers of the PDP in the state, the group claimed to have been the brains behind the success of the party including delivering the highest number of votes for the presidential elections. But in a swift reaction to this, the group of Concerned PDP Members in Rivers state, in an advertorial described the attempt by the aggrieved group to factionalize the state chapter of the PDP by claiming that the address off the party is different from the actual office address on Aba Road, Port Harcourt. The PDP group said it was a fraudulent act by the aggrieved group to have insinuated so.

On the issue of Amaechi not being involved in contributing to the success of the party at the 2007 polls because he was purportedly disqualified by the Party in April 14, 2007 governorship elections while Celestine Omehia was presented as a consensus arrangement. They also explained that at the time of the election, Amaechi was on self-exile in Ghana and made no contribution to the excess of the party at the polls. But the concerned members said that Amaechi was never disqualified by the PDP but was rather unlawfully substituted by the party at a time it was functioning under an undisciplined leadership. They claim that this is a vindication of Dr. Nwodo’s position as stated in his inaugural speech where he stated that the Party was drifting and needed to be salvaged. “It was this level of indiscipline and flagrant abuse of the constitution of the country which culminated to the loss of some states and seats in the National Assembly to other rival parties. It is clear from their testimony that they were part of that indiscipline as it involved the handpicking of candidates as was seen in the case of Omehia which was confirmed by the Supreme Court.”

Continuing further they said, “Recall Sir, that Celestine Omehia who never took part in the primary elections was hand-picked by the same group, as such he was disqualified and eventually disgraced out of office after months by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in a landmark judgment.” On the issue of the governor being in exile during the period of the election, the concerned members stated that the governor was advised by the leader of the party to run for his life because of the threats of assassination by those who could not stand his guts for challenging his substitution in court coupled with the fact that the crime commission was alleged to have been looking for him to be used as a prosecuting witness against the then governor.”  The group which is loyal to the leadership of the party further stated that Amaechi’s supporters were on hand in all the local government areas and were asked through a press statement to participate in the campaigns as well as the election since what was important was the success of the party at the polls irrespective of the candidate.

The aggrieved members also alleged that Amaechi in collaboration with the Party Chairman, G.U.Ake and Prince Uche Secondus-the National organizing secretary of the PDP did not conduct congresses for the party offices at all the levels in line with the constitution of  the party.  “…he has imposed a reign of a minority cabal comprising of his friends from other political parties who were opposed to our efforts in the 2007 elections, his cronies and stooges into critical positions in the government of Rivers state.” In their response, the concerned members said, “What is for the goose, they say is for good for the gander. Those behind the petition belonged to the majority cabal, and today they complain that Amaechi has formed a minority cabal to run the affairs of the state. Governance goes beyond party affiliations…It is indeed a welcome development after all, politics is a game of numbers.” They commended the governor’s unity government which has led to a boost in the party as more and more members of the rival parties have now joined the party.

On the issue of not conducting congresses at all the levels of the party in the state, the aggrieved group said Amaechi in collaboration with Chief G.U.Ake –the state chairman of the party and Prince Uche Secondus-the National Organizing Secretary of the Party had breached the party’s constitution. But the concerned members had since October 25, 2007 when the Supreme Court declared Amaechi the rightful occupant of the seat, relocated to Abuja and have practically refused to be part of every party activity in the state. “It is a known fact that Sekibo and co have refused to acknowledge Amaechi as the governor since his inauguration. He was in court to challenge the decision of the Supreme Court.” Continuing, they said, “Mr. Chairman, recall that this group of ousted majority cabal have since been exile in Abuja where they have choice properties and enjoying the peace in Abuja after causing havoc in the state. How can they ascertain f proper congresses were conducted when they were on exile sine the inauguration of Amaechi’s government?”

On the issue of cancelling the party’s primaries for the selection of chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the 2007 local government elections in Rivers State as alleged by the aggrieved group. The concerned members had this to say, “It is in record that the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt sacked the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, which was illegally constituted by Celestine Omehia. As such, every action taken by that body was considered illegal and a nullity, including the conduct of the primaries for the Chairmanship and the Councillorship elections.” They said the fresh conduct of the primaries by Ake and co was to beat the INEC deadline and rather than the unlawful candidates accept their fate, they decided to go to court where they lost at the court of first instance.  

According to the advertorial by the concerned group signed by Godstime Worluh and Kingsley Menedole, the aggrieved politicians have adopted the approach of a factionalized party in other to whip up sentiments with a view at getting the National Chairman of the Party to dissolve the excos of the party in the state, when Rivers State is not known to be witnessing a new crisis in the party apart from those who swore never top accept Amaechi as the leader of the party and the governor of the state. It is alleged that they have perfected plans to set up parallel party excos as was the case when they hurriedly formed the disbanned PDP Reform Forum which had parallel excos at all the wards.

Inside sources say, the formation of another structure of the party few months to primaries is a last minute strategy by the group before they move to another political party. But when contacted on the development, the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief G.U.Ake said the Party was not unaware of their plans and would also articulate its position on the matter.

It is not yet clear what the end may be, but feelers from the party says it may be difficult for Nwodo to dissolve the exco as the case is in some states as that would mean fresh crisis in the state which is enjoying relative peace since Gov. Amaechi has tightened the noose against criminals in the state. Inside sources also say that with Amaechi’s performance so far in delivering the dividends of democracy which has placed him first among equals, it would be suicidal to disrupt the party which is destined to win at the polls again based on the governor’s popularity amongst the people and not based on the decision of a few members of the cabal who think that government belongs to them only.

The question then becomes, can PDP afford to sacrifice a performing governor and his structure at the expense of a few members of the cabal? Will Okwy Nwodo not stick to his recent call to the press to help him fight the cabal in the PDP that has held it hostage? The Beam will keep you informed.//