Rivers APC Crisis Deepens as Parallel Officials Emerge

Blessing Ibunge

Crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, seemed to have deepened, as the Senator Magnus Abe faction of the party yesterday inaugurated executives to man its affairs.

The camp loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, had during their congress on Saturday, elected Emeka Bekee, as the party chairman.

However, the Abe faction has also appointed its state officials, with Golden Chioma announced as the party chairman.

Briefing journalists shortly after the inauguration at the party Freedom House, Port Harcourt, Chioma said there had been lots of comments about their recent state congress, which needed to be addressed.

He stated that they were “ready for battle” to occupy the Bricks House (Government House), Port Harcourt, in 2023, and that nobody could intimidate them.

The chairman stressed that the era of wishing “happy birthdays” was over and that they had persons of impeccable character that could take the party to the desired height.

“In the last 72 hours, our great party has been saddled with a lot of rift by a lot of mischief makers. We just want to clear the air, so that this press conference would settle all dust.

“We held the ward congress; we held the local government congress and we also held the state congress. For the avoidance of doubt, all those whose names were mentioned this morning bought forms, submitted forms. They are men of impeccable personalities and ladies of repute.

“I stand as a duly elected Executive Chairman of APC in Rivers State. I also want to sound a note of warning that this party will no longer wish happy birthdays. We are leaving the era of birthdays for a political option, where we must take the Brick House.

“We are the political party that is only known to contest election; we don’t want to be the second best. We want to be the best and we want to produce the next governor of Rivers State.

“This state is very important to the Nigerian project. We cannot continue to be in the opposition. APC will rule Nigeria, APC will rule Rivers State.”

But Chris Finebone, the recently elected publicity secretary of the Amaechi faction, stated that there was no parallel APC in the state.

Finebone, who was reacting to the inauguration of Chioma as a factional chairman of the party, said, “There was no parallel congress in Rivers APC on Saturday.

“What qualifies as parallel congress is when the team sent by the APC CECPC conducted two congresses with inec and security agencies observing. There was no such thing that happened in Rivers State last Saturday.

“The team from Abuja conducted the only congress that took place in Rivers State at the Polo Club, PH. That exercise saw the emergence of Chief Emeka Bekee as the State Chairman with other officers for various positions.

“As soon as we are inaugurated, we will get security agencies to go after any imposters right into their holes and fish them out to face the law. You just watch. They are impersonators,” Finebone added.