Following the crisis in the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a former chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ikanya and a former National Assembly member, Igo Aguma, alongside others have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aguma, who was also a former acting chairman of the APC in Rivers quit the party following a ruling of the Supreme Court, which failed to recognise him as the chairman of the party in the state.
In a statement by the Rivers PDP Publicity Secretary, Tambari Sydney Gbara, the party announced that the two former APC chieftains have joined PDP.
Gbara, in the statement also disclosed that a ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 22, with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State scheduled to attend and receive them into the party.
Gbara further disclosed that eight other prominent members of the opposition party have also joined the PDP and would be received at the welcoming ceremony.
The statement reads: “The State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Rivers State Chapter Amb. Desmond Akawor on behalf of the Party, joyfully welcomes the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON ,GSSRS, POS (Africa) his members of Cabinet, Party Leaders, Stakeholders and supporters to the formal returning to our Party the following persons;
“Dr Ikanya Davies ( Former State Chairman, APC), Rt. Hon. Igo Aguma (former National Assembly Member and former Ag.Chairman APC), Chief Ogbogbo Nnamdi (Former APC LGA Leader), Hon. Isobo Jack (Former Caretaker Chairman, APC) and Chief Hon.Wisdom Wakama (Wizzy Waks) (Former Minority Leader in the State Assembly).
“Others are, Hon.Alpine Whyte (Former Deputy Mayor Phalga LGA), Hon. Alamese Martins-Yellow, Hon. Ilamabo Mirilla, Hon. Faaye Franklin and Barr. Paul Nwankwoala (former APC Legal Adviser).”
Leadership crisis has been rocking the Rivers State chapter of the APC. The supremacy battle between the former governor of the state and the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and former Senator Magnus Abe took the centre stage in recent times.
The crisis escalated following a parrallel state congress which produced the Isaac Ogbobula-led Caretaker Committee and the Igo Aguma-led Caretaker Committee. The Ogbobula-led Caretaker Committee was supported by Amaechi, while Igo Aguma-led Caretaker Committee was supported by Abe.
However, after series of legal battles and conundrums, the Supreme Court in its judgement declared Ogbobula as the Chairman of the APC in the state.
The decision didn’t go down well with Aguma and the Abe-backed APC faction, as he exited the party with some of his supporters.
