By Abiola Olawale
The political crisis rocking Rivers State has continued to take different twists and turns as several local government caretaker chairmen in the state have picked up tickets under the platform of the All People’s Party (APP) ahead of the forthcoming local government elections.
It was gathered that the caretaker chairmen, who were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were seen flying campaign banners under the name and logo of the APP.
The names of the candidates for the chairmanship for the 23 local government areas of the state and those for councillorship positions from the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) have been nominated, screened, and forwarded to the Rivers State Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
It was gathered that the list was dominated by serving caretaker chairmen of the LGAs who are believed to be loyal to Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State.
All the serving caretaker chairmen are expected to contest on the platform of APP.
It was also learnt that posters and billboards of the current CTC chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Ezebunwo Ichemati, and others with the APP logo campaigning for the chairmanship position emerged yesterday.
Speaking with the press, Ichemati said they would contest and campaign on the platform of the APP, assuring that they would provide credible leadership if elected into office.
Also, the CTC Chairman of Khana LGA, Marvin Yobana and his supporters have formally announced their defection to the APP.
This comes amid the acrimonious relationship between Fubara and his predecessor, the incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The situation took another turn as Wike appears to have consolidated his position amidst the political turmoil affecting the Rivers state chapter of the PDP as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party purportedly gave its approval to the state congresses conducted under his leadership.
This decision was said to have been made during a meeting of the NWC presided over by the acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, at the party’s national headquarters. This move may not have gone well with Fubara who is said to have asked his loyalists to contest the LGA polls under the platform of APP
