Amaechi, Abe supporters disagree over closure of Rivers APC secretariat

Supporters of Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, and Magnus Abe, former senator from Rivers, on Saturday, clashed over a directive for the closure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in the state.

A faction of the state APC led by Igo Aguma, who is loyal to Abe, asked that all factional secretariats of the party in the state be shut down immediately.

Aguma was declared chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, but he was later suspended from office by the Andrew Uchendu-led state executive committee (SEC) on the grounds that Aguma allegedly took critical decisions concerning the party without the committee members.

Uchendu, a former senator who represented Rivers east, said Sokonte Davis, former executive director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), had been appointed as new acting chairman.

In a statement by Livingston Nwechie, his media aide, Aguma, said he gave the directive after sending a situation report to the national caretaker committee (NCC) chairman of the party on the activities of the APC in the state.

He said his report proposed to the NCC the need to set up an independent committee to deal with the factionalisation of the party in the state with a view to bringing about peace and reconciliation among members.

He asked for the withdrawal of litigation challenging his chairmanship position “in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the party” to pave way for reconciliation in the party.

Aguma said the actions of Davies, who is leading another splinter group, is impeding on the reconciliation process which “is inimical to the party’s growth”.

“The issues of further litigations by some members are contrary to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that all Court cases instituted by members of the party be withdrawn to pave the way for peace and reconciliation,” Aguma said.

“It is an affront and highly rebellious for Sokonte Davies and his splinter group to continue to dare the Court, President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Caretaker Committee of the party by taking further divisive steps to destroy the APC in Rivers state.

“The splinter group in Rivers APC, anchored by Mr Sokonte Davies, is strongly advised to immediately comply with the directive of the State Caretaker Committee of the party to shut down all factional secretariats in the state, including his own at 63 Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

“Sokonte Davies is reminded along with his splinter group that their actions are not promoting peace and reconciliation efforts in the state chapter. The Court has taken a decision confirming myself as Acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the state, and all statutory members constituting the Committee.”

Reacting, Ogbonna Nwuke, acting publicity secretary of the state APC, believed to be loyal to Amaechi, said Aguma, having been suspended from the party, lacked the capacity to call for the closure of the secretariat of the state APC.

“Igo Aguma, having been suspended by 28 out of 38 statutory members, has lost the right to make any comments concerning the activities of the APC,” he said.