By Kolawole Ojebisi
The tensions and confusion in the ruling People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State may have spilled over to the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is one of the opposition parties in the state.
As the feud between the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor in Office who is also the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike deepens, nothing is spared by each faction to prove a point in the seeming supremacy battle.
Echoes of tumultous antagonism in the PDP now keep generating ripples in the APC as members of the opposition party have differing opinions on whether the Local election slated for Saturday should be conducted or not.
From all intents and purposes, the positions of the APC stalwarts are informed by nothing but the stance of the person they are backing between Wike and Fubara.
Every notable political actors in the APC has a horse in the race and there are fierce calculations and permutations to ensure victory for their horse as what happens on Saturday will go a long way to determine the winner of the supremacy battle in the state
However, the rift in the APC in Rivers State became intense between former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former caretaker committee chairman, Chief Tony Okocha,
While Okocha, who is an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insist on challenging the conduct of the council poll, the reinstated state chairman of the party, Chief Emeke Beke, loyal to Amaechi, said nothing would stop the election from being held.
Beke said the party had fielded candidates in 22 of the 23 LGs of the state.
Okocha gave his stance at a news briefing held on Wednesday at the APC Secretariat located on Aba Road in Port Harcourt.
Beke, in his own case, chose the party’s secretariat on Woji Road in GRA, Port Harcourt. He even presented flags to candidates to contest the election on the platform of the APC.
Okocha slammed Fubara for his insistence on going ahead with the October 5 poll, in disobedience to court orders.
Okocha argued that the governor sanctioned the conduct of the election despite the law that all parties be given a 90-day window to prepare for the election.
He argued further that Fubara violated the law by scheduling elections within 30 days instead of the 90 days stipulated by the law.
Okocha stated: “The governor and whatever action taken are illegal; we will stand with the law; we will not take the laws into our hands; but we will not allow him to perpetuate illegality.”
Beke, however, faulted Okocha, insisting that the APC, under his leadership, was fully ready to participate in Saturday’s election.
Beke said: “Today is a great day for the APC in Rivers State. I hear some people somewhere saying we will not participate in this election. We, the APC under my leadership, will participate in this Saturday’s election.”
He called on the police and other security agencies to arrest anyone trying to foment trouble in the forthcoming election.
Beke added: “Rivers State was a theatre of war during the former administration. Now we have a governor who has the fear of God and wants to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State.
”Nobody should cause problems in this state. If you cause problems the security agencies will chase you to your hole. I wish all our candidates for this election the best of luck. The people will speak, go and campaign for people in your local government areas.”
He added, “The election will take place on Saturday. There is no court judgment stopping it because there was a state High Court judgment before that of the Federal High Court and they are of coordinate jurisdiction.
“There is no tension anywhere. We know that some people will want to play the script of their masters but Rivers’ people are bigger than them.”
There may be more than meets the eye in the crisis rocking the political landscape of Rivers State as what happens on Saturday might alter the political dynamics of the state.
It appears former Governor Rotimi Amaech, erstwhile political ally of Wike and former Minsister of Transport, might capitalise on upcoming events to scheme his way to prominence and upstage Wike as the most influential politician in Rivers State.
This is evident in Beke’s response when asked if Amaechi is still a force to reckon with in the state.
“There is no way you will talk about the politics of Rivers State with the APC without Amaechi.
”With the election, we are proving to Rivers people and Nigeria that Amaechi is still strong and a member of the APC.” Beke Said.
Nyesom Wike is currently straddling the turfs of both APC and PDP. Wike is serving as minister in an APC government, a position he got as a reward for his contribution to Tinubu’s victory at the presidential poll, while he remains an active member of the PDP.
This development may have comtributed to the fierceness of the supremacy battle and informed the decision of Amaechi, his erstwhile ally, to join the fray.
