26th November, 2014
Dakuku Peterside, representing Andoni /Opobo Nkoro federal constituency of Rivers state has been picked as the consensus governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress.
It was learnt that the Elders of the APC settled for Peterside after due consultations, horse-trading and negotiations with other stakeholders in the party.
APC had zoned the governorship slot to Rivers South East. Senator Magnus Abe, represents Rivers South East at the National Assembly.
Peterside who was once the Commissioner for Works in the first tenure of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration is from Opobo, a Riverine area of the state. He was chairman, Opobo Nkoro local Government council. He was also Special Adviser to Governor Odili.
His choice may be in fulfilment of the promise of Amaechi’s administration not to hand over to another Ikwerre like he is.
Abe was a minority leader in Rivers State Assembly, under the All Peoples Party, APP, representing Gokana in Ogoniland before defecting to PDP, when Amaechi was the Speaker of House Assembly.
Abe was later appointed the Commissioner for Information under the Dr Peter Odili administration as Governor. He was later appointed the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.
It was it learnt that Abe was there when the consensus was reached.
It is not clear how the Ogonis will accept the decision.
Abe is yet to give his reaction to the decision of the party.
However, majority of callers into a local Port Harcourt radio station said what just happened in APC will reduce rancour that is plaguing the PDP alleged to have been hijacked by Nyesom Wike,Governorship Aspirant of the party and immediate past Minister of State for Education.