Anti-Party? Fubara’s candidates contest Rivers council’s poll on Another Political platform
The political family of Rivers Governor Siminialayi Fubara has chosen the Actions Peoples Party (APP) to contest the October 5 local government elections following the crisis rocking the family’s original political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Nation had reported that ahead of the grassroot poll, the Governor and his loyalists were seeking alternative platform to contest the local government because they were not in control of the PDP.
It was observed that since the political crisis broke out, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and his camp have been maintaining firm grip of the PDP’s structures across the state.
Wike’s camp was said to have finally wrestled the entire structures from Fubara and consolidated their stronghold for the next four years during the ward, local government and state congresses of the party.
Fubara and his loyalists boycotted the congresses after obtaining a court order halting the exercise but Wike’s loyalists relied on another court order to constitute the structures.
Though the outcome of the congresses had further deepened the crisis in the party, there were no indications that the PDP structures would be handed over to Fubara despite promises of some PDP leaders at the national level.
Sensing trouble, the Governor and his camp were said to have selected APP as their alternative platform to contest the elections.
Governor’s loyalists and social media aides had been promoting the activities of the APP making the little known party to gain popularity within the state.
Fubara’s interest in APP was hitherto a subject of speculation but with his loyalists emerging local government chairmanship and councilorship candidates, the matter had become a reality.
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It was gathered that after the hullabaloo that characterised selection of candidates across the wards and local government councils, the camp published the final list of the chosen ones under the APP.
Most of the Caretaker Committee chairmen emerged chairmanship candidates while new persons were anointed chairmanship candidates in some local government areas.
Some of the anointed candidates were said to have sparked protests in some areas especially in Khana Local Government Area, where stakeholders marched to the Government House Port Harcourt and demanded that the governor should change the choice of one Martin Nwigbo as the chairmanship candidate.
It was gathered that all Fubara’s 23 chosen chairmanship candidates emerged from the APP platform.
Fubara’s loyalists, who emerged chairmanship candidates of the APP are Abua/Odua, Vincent Reuben Obu; Ahoada-East, Chibudom Ezu; Ahoada-West, Mr. Iyekor Ikporo; Akuku-Toru, Mrs. Tonye Oniyide; Emohua, David Omereji; Obio/Akpor, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo; Omuma, Promise Reginald; Opobo/Nkoro, Enyiada Cookey-Gam; Port Harcourt, Ezebunwo Ichemati, among others.
The APP Secretariat located at the new GRA in Port Harcourt was said to be a beehive of political activities as Fubara’s supporters were trooping in and out of the building.
Recently, 20 Councillorship candidates representing the 20 wards in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area undertook a familiarization visit to the APP Secretariat and held a meeting with the state party Chairman, Sunny N Wokekoro.
