Fubara’s loyalists set to contest Rivers LG election under APP
Gov. Siminalaye Fubara and Nyesom Wike
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
It is now certain that loyalists of Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, especially the Caretaker Committee Chairpersons, CTCs will contest the state’s October 5 local government election on the platform of the Action People’s Party, APP.
Our correspondent who has been closely monitoring political dynamics in the state reports that this is due to the political crisis between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has hijacked the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.
Fubara’s loyalists aspiring to contest the council election have therefore fallen back to APP. They have collected and returned the expression of interest/nomination forms of APP for the Rivers local government election.
Among the aspirants who have submitted themselves for screening by their new party include Chijioke Ihunwo, the Chairman of Caretaker Committee, Obio-Akpor local government (the LGA of Wike).
He was screened today, Friday, September 20 as the sole candidate for the council election in the local government.
Also, some known members of PDP from Oyigbo LGA on Wednesday accompanied the chairmanship candidate, Hon. Dr. Gift Okere, alongside Stakeholders, Councillorship aspirants, supporters, friends, and well-wishers, to the secretariat of the APP, Port Harcourt to return their expression of interest/nomination forms.
Okere and other aspirants were sighted happily taking photographs at the APP Secretariat.
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In the same vein, within the week, 20 councillorship candidates representing the 20 wards in Port Harcourt city Local Government led by the CTC Chairman, Ezebunwo Ichemati made a strategic move by visiting the State Chairman of APP, Sunny NWokekoro, at the party’s secretariat.
Recall that Fubara and his loyalists were sidelined in the struggle for control of the PDP as they were denied forms for participation in the congresses that produced the new executives from wards to the state level of the party who are mostly loyalists of the FCT Minister.
The development meant that the total control of the PDP in Rivers State is now in the hands of Wike.
Observers of Rivers politics said the development may have prompted Governor Fubara to give a nod to all the 23 local government chairmen and aspirants in the state to contest the forthcoming local government elections on the platforms of the APP.
But as at the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement directing Governor Fubara’s loyalists to defect to APP.
Below is the comprehensive list of Chairmanship candidates vying to represent various LGAs:
1. Abua/Odual – Vincent Reuben Obu
2. Ahoada-East – Chibudom Ezu.
3. Ahoada-West – Mr. Iyekor Ikporo.
4. Akuku-Toru – Hon. Mrs. Tonye Oniyide.
5. Andoni – Hon. Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile.
6. Asari-Toru – Hon. Dr. Sule Amachree.
7. Bonny – Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua.
8. Degema – Dr. Harry Agiriye.
9. Eleme – Chief Brain Gokpa.
10. Emohua – Barr. David Omereji.
11. Etche – Hon. John Ngubo Otamiri.
12. Gokana – Hon. Monday Dumiye.
13. Ikwerre – Barr. Isreal Abosi.
14. Khana – Hon. Martins Nwigbo.
15. Obio/Akpor – Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo.
16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni – Hon. Prince Isaac Umejuru.
17. Ogu/Bolo – Engr. Ishmael Oforibika.
18. Okrika – Comrd. Dr. Igwe Achese KSC.
19. Omuma – Hon. Promise Reginald.
20. Opobo/Nkoro – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
21. Oyigbo – Hon. Gift Okere.
22. Port Harcourt – Hon. Ezebunwo Ichemati.
23. Tai – Hon. Matthew Nenubari Dike
END
