PDP CRISIS: Amaechi's Loyalists Declare Boycott Of PDP Convention

Rivers State delegates loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, declared a boycott of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP's) mini-convention which holds on Saturday, August 31, in Abuja.

 

This decision was announced by the leader of the Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly, Asita Asita, in a press briefing in Government House, Port Harcourt.

The boycott is to protest national PDP leadership’s indifference to the crisis rocking the state PDP and illegal suspension of Governor Amaechi by the party, Asita explained. He said:

“The leadership of the party at the centre has refused to bring under control the rascality with which activities of the party are being run by the illegal administration of the PDP in the state. We are not satisfied with the illegal suspension of Governor Amaechi who is the known leader of the party in the state.

“We are aware of the mini-convention and were hoping the party at the centre would take appropriate steps over the disrepute the party is suffering. Because the party at the centre has failed to do what it is supposed to do, we have decided to boycott the convention."

95 political office holders are planning the boycott. These are two senators, 10 members of the House representatives, 27 members of the Rivers House of Assembly, 23 elected Chairmen of the 23 local Government Councils, 23 Chairmen of the party in the 23 Local Government areas, and the 10 delegates that the PDP constitution empowers the Governor to nominate either from his cabinet or political appointees.

Asita,  a lawyer and a member of House of Representatives, also expressed regrets that the leadership at the centre has refused to control the “activities and rascality of the Felix Obuah led faction of the party in the state that has left the party without character.”

The member representing Gokana Constituency, Innocent Barikor, expressed solidarity with the action, saying

“in support of the leaders from the Rivers NASS caucus, 27 of us from the Rivers State Assembly are also in support of the boycott in solidarity with the governor.”

Tammy Danagogo, Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development, also presented the unanimous consent of Rivers State commissioners, especially those not declared expelled by the party leadership, to the boycott of the convention.

Chimbika Akorolo, the Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON,in Rivers State and Chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Council who spoke on behalf of the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen, said they have been assaulted by

“a kindergarten kind of leadership of the party in the state and have decided to boycott the convention in protest against the illegally of the suspension our Governor.”

Samuel Horsfall, who spoke on behalf Chairmen of PDP in the 23 local Government areas who are automatic delegates, said it had been agreed that no delegate from the 23 local Government areas will be not at convention in solidarity with the Governor of the state.

It will be recalled, that on Monday, August 26, the Felix Obuah led PDP expelled 18 members, including Dr Sam Jaja, former National Vice Chairman of the party, Commissioners and other political appointees, for alleged insubordination to the party.

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Observers said the expulsion was to prevent the Amaechi aides, from coming to the convention and denying support to the candidature of Prince Uche Secondus,who is Nyesom Wike’s candidate for the post of national Vice Chairman.

In a swift reaction to the mass boycott, the Obuah led PDP has described the decision by Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s loyalists to boycott the Saturday, August 31, National Mini Convention as a welcome development. A statement issued and signed by the Special Adviser to the State Party leadership on Media, Jerry Needam noted that the boycott was not unexpected in view of the way and manner Gov Amaechi and his followers have been carrying on, with no regard to party rules and regulations.

Not long ago it was reported that PDP leadership decided to bar Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and 27 members of the State House of Assembly loyal to him, from attending the national convention of the party.

It will be reminded that the state PDP had been facing political crisis since May 2013, when PDP suspended Amaechi and 27 members of the House of Assembly loyal to him.  
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