Amaechi’s loyalists snub PDP convention

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Loyalists of Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, have announced a boycott of the 31 August national convention of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic party.

The loyalists who are automatic delegates are staging a mass boycott of the convention in protest against the illegal suspension of the Governor from the party.

Among the political office holders planning the boycott are two senators, 10 members of the House representatives,27 members of the Rivers House of Assembly, 23 elected Chairmen of the of the 23 local Government Councils,23 Chairmen of the party in the 23 Local Government areas ,and the 10 delegates that the PDP constitution empowers the Governor to nominate either from his cabinet or political appointees.

Asita O.Asita, the Leader of the Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly announced the mass boycott of the convention on behalf of the National Assembly members in a press briefing in Government House, Port Harcourt.

He said that the “National Assembly members have watched with shock, pain and trauma the gradual disintegration of PDP we have invested our lives to build in the past four months living it as party without character.”

Asita who is also a lawyer and a member of House of Representatives expressed regrets that the leadership at the centre has refused to control the “activities and rascality of the Felix Obuah led faction of the party in the state that has left the party without character.”

Tammy Danagogo, the Commissioner for Urban Development who spoke on behalf of the members of Governor Amaechi’s cabinet said the state executive council concurs with NASS members. He said the state executive council members have held several meetings to deliberate on the issues of illegal suspensions and expulsions of members and decided to boycott the convention in solidarity with the Governor Amaechi.

He said that anybody who claims to represent Rivers state delegates is just an impostor.

Chimbika Akorolo, the Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON,in Rivers State and Chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Council who spoke on behalf of the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen said they have been assaulted by “a kindergarten kind of leadership of the party in the state and have decided to boycott the convention in protest against the illegally of the suspension our Governor.”

Samuel Horsfall, who spoke on behalf Chairmen of PDP in the 23 local Government areas who are automatic delegates, said it had been agreed that no delegate from the 23 local Government areas will be not at convention in solidarity with the Governor of the state.

The Felix Obuah led PDP recently expelled 18 members, including Dr Sam Jaja, former National Vice Chairman of the party, Commissioners and other political appointees.

Observers said the expulsion was to prevent the Amaechi aides, from coming to the convention and denying support to the candidature of Prince Uche Secondus,who is Nyesom Wike’s candidate for the post of national Vice Chairman.

A few days ago,Felix Obuah placed a full page advertorial in The Nation newspaper announcing the expulsion of Dr Sam Sam Jaja, just to scuttle his race for the post of National Vice Chairman of Party.

In a swift reaction to the mass boycott, the Obuah led PDP has described the decision by Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s loyalists to boycott the Saturday, August 31, National Mini Convention as a welcome development.

Dismissing the decision as inconsequential, the party said the action will in no way affect the State delegates’ list of the Abuja Convention, but would rather help filter the State delegates of infiltrators, untrustworthy elements and expelled members of the Party.

A statement issued and signed by the Special Adviser to the State Party leadership on Media, Jerry Needam noted that the boycott was not unexpected in view of the way and manner Gov Amaechi and his followers have been carrying on, with no regard to party rules and regulations.