Defection: More Troubles For Pro-Wike Lawmakers In Rivers APC
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – For publicly denying their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, the 27-pro Nyesom Wike lawmakers have further enmeshed themselves in stormy political waters in the oil-rich State.
According to the Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, the embattled Assemblymen’s denial of their defection to the Party is not only “shameful”, but also a demonstration of gross irresponsibility on their part as so-called lawmakers.
“I want to put it on record that those 27 members of the House of Assembly are still members of the APC. The law is clear on defection. They cannot run away from the truth because we all know and saw it when they defected to our party”, he said.
Beke, considered an ally of former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, said the lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, cannot deny their membership in the APC after openly dumping the PDP and moving to the APC.
Addressing the media in Port Harcourt at the weekend in response to Amaewhule’s recent claims that he and his colleagues were still members of the PDP, Beke said the lawmakers’ defection was publicly celebrated, even with a reception ceremony hosted by Tony Okocha, who then claimed to be the CTC Chairman of Rivers State APC.
“They cannot sheepishly make a U-turn and yet be celebrated by the same Tony Okocha whom they are now denying. What a shame,” Beke said, indicating that appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against the pro-Wike lawmakers after the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.
He said the APC is fully prepared to participate in the Council’s elections, adding; “In our last meeting, we sent out invitations for them (the pro-Wike lawmakers) to attend, but they did not. Right now, we are focused on local government elections, and after that, we will take necessary actions concerning them”.
Beke, who also confirmed that all APC candidates for the elections have been screened and cleared by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), said; “The APC will take part in the forthcoming local government elections on October 5. Our candidates have been screened and cleared”.
Further asserting that the court ruling by Justice Aprioku, which recognized him as the elected APC chairman in Rivers state, has not been overturned, Beke said; “Nothing will stop the APC from participating fully in the local government elections. If anyone claims otherwise, I have instructed our lawyers to secure a warrant of arrest because, as a party, we believe in the rule of law”.
The APC Chairman lauded Governor Siminalayi Fubara for providing a level playing field for all political parties in the upcoming elections, noting that; “This is the first time in the history of politics in Rivers State that we are seeing a governor who is ready to allow all parties to test their popularity, allowing Rivers people to elect their preferred chairmen and councilors”.
Forefront News recalled that the pro-Wike lawmakers had announced their defection to the APC amid the ongoing political crisis involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past Governor Nyesom Wike, and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
With the announcement, pro-Fubara lawmakers filed a lawsuit to declare the seats of the pro-Wike lawmakers vacant. Also, an opposition party in the state, the Action Peoples Party initiated a suit against them at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
But in his judgment that has been widely criticised by stakeholders in Rivers state, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the APP’s suit on Friday, describing it statute-barred, being a pre-election matter.
