20th August, 2010
The battle of supremacy between the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, South South Nigeria, and the factional members of the party also known as the ‘Abuja politicians’ is getting fierce by the day.
The State Government is not only prosecuting the 12 factional members for alleged cultism and gun running, but has also revoked the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, of the property at 25 Ohaeto Street, D/line, Port Harcourt, used by the factional PDP as secretariat.
A notice pasted on the property and signed by the the Rivers State Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Ezemonye Amadi, directed the owner of the property concerned to relinquish its ownership as the state government said it intended to use it as a health facility.
The police swooped on the factional members of PDP and arrested 12 of them weeks ago. They were slammed with six-count charge including, gun running and sponsoring of an alleged cult group called “Big 20.â€
The arrested persons have been charged to court and granted bail.They were freed last week Wednesday from the Port Harcourt prison where they were remanded.
In another development, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has accused some of the factional leaders of PDP of amassing arms to hijack the 2011 elections in the state.
—Okafor Ofiebor/  Port Harcourt