Wike, Fubara feud pushes Fubara’s loyalists to APP.

*Fallout of hijacking of state structure of State PDP by Wike.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Ahead of the October 5 local government council election in Rivers State, the diehard loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, especially the Caretaker Committee Chairmen and other Aspirants are now contesting under the ticket of the Action Peoples Party, APP.

Our Correspondent who has been closely monitoring political dynamics in the State reports that due to the political crisis between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has hijacked the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Fubara’s loyalists aspiring to contest the council election have fallen back on APP. They have collected and returned their interest/nomination forms of APP.

Among those Aspirants who submitted themselves for screening include Chijioke Ihunwo Chairman Caretaker Committee, Obio-Akpor local government(the LGA of Wike) was screened today, Friday, September 20, the ticket of APP as the sole candidate.

Also, some known members of PDP from Oyigbo LGA on Wednesday accompanied the chairmanship candidate Hon. Dr. Gift Okere, alongside Stakeholders, Councilorship aspirants, supporters, friends, and well-wishers, to the party secretariat of the APP, Port Harcourt to return their interest/nomination forms.

Okere and other Aspirants were sighted happily taking photographs at the APP Secretariat.

Observers of the Rivers politics say the latest development may be connected to the unofficial political configuration in the state that may have prompted Governor Fubara to reportedly give a nod to all 23 local government chairmen and Aspirants in the state to contest the forthcoming local government elections on the platforms of the All People’s Party (APP).

In the same vein, within the week, 20 Councillorship candidates representing the 20 wards in Port Harcourt city Local Government led by its CTC Chairman, Ezebunwo Ichemati made a strategic move by paying a visit to the State Chairman of APP,  Sunny N Wokekoro, at the party secretariat.

Recall that Fubara and his loyalists were sidelined in the struggle for control of the PDP after they were denied forms to partake in the congresses that produced the new executives from Wards to the State level of the party. The development meant that the total control of the PDP in Rivers State was vested in the hands of Wike.

As the LGA election draws near with a structured timeline that may be difficult to alter, it is therefore difficult for the Governor’s contest under PDP unless the national leadership of PDP moves fast to halt the drift and the intractable crisis. This also applies to the crisis-ridden State All Progressives Congress, APC,(also hijacked by Wike) the APP may be the party that could break the 25-year grip of the PDP on the state.

At the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement directing Governor Fubara’s loyalists to defect to APP.

Below is the comprehensive list of Chairmanship candidates vying to represent various LGAs:

1. Abua/Odual – Vincent Reuben Obu
2. Ahoada-East – Chibudom Ezu.
3. Ahoada-West – Mr. Iyekor Ikporo.
4. Akuku-Toru – Hon. Mrs. Tonye Oniyide.
5. Andoni – Hon. Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile.
6. Asari-Toru – Hon. Dr. Sule Amachree.
7. Bonny – Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua.
8. Degema – Dr. Harry Agiriye.
9. Eleme – Chief Brain Gokpa.
10. Emohua – Barr. David Omereji.
11. Etche – Hon. John Ngubo Otamiri.
12. Gokana – Hon. Monday Dumiye.
13. Ikwerre – Barr. Isreal Abosi.
14. Khana – Hon. Martins Nwigbo.
15. Obio/Akpor – Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo.
16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni – Hon. Prince Isaac Umejuru.
17. Ogu/Bolo – Engr. Ishmael Oforibika.
18. Okrika – Comrd. Dr. Igwe Achese KSC.
19. Omuma – Hon. Promise Reginald.
20. Opobo/Nkoro – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
21. Oyigbo – Hon. Gift Okere.
22. Port Harcourt – Hon. Ezebunwo Ichemati.
23. Tai – Hon. Matthew Nenubari Dike