By Wisdom Patrick
A fresh political headache is brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Rivers State, South-South Nigeria. Former foundation members of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and those of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) are spoiling for war with the new APC leadership in the State over leadership structure.
A top member of the party and former governorship aspirant on the platform of CPC (name withheld) told Political Economist that following the defection of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and his loyalists from the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, the leadership structure of their party has been usurped, “while we have been displaced.”
The source added that, the Amaechi team has no regard or slot for the former leadership of the ANPP and CPC which gave birth to APC in the state.
“We built the structure they are coming to enjoy now. We nurtured it right from its infancy. We really suffered and deserve some respect and recognition. We appreciate their joining us in the progressive party but, the point we are making is that we should be appreciated and recognized.”
He added that of all the party offices in the APC, none is occupied by the former CPC or ANPP stalwarts. “What you have are “Amaechi boys” taking over all the offices. According to the angry party leader, he and other aggrieved members have concluded arrangement to go to court against this recent development in the party unless the national leadership of the party urgently steps in.
He added that, a strong worded letter of complaint/appeal has been forwarded to both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the national leadership of APC over the unfolding crisis. “We have dispatched letters of both Appeal and complaint to INEC and to our great party leadership to come in and look into the crisis and correct the abnormalities or else we would go to court. 2015 is around the corner, therefore, the time to sort out things is now.”
Rivers APC had been drawn into a long battle of wits with the state police command which the APC has accused of bias. On several counts the Rivers Police Command had aborted rallies organised by the party faithful or persons protesting in solidarity with the APC. The new development, analysts believe, may prove the final straw that would break up the APC leadership in the oil-rich state.
