Chkwudi Akasike, Port-Harcourt

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State took a fresh turn on Friday as the leader of the party in the state and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, removed some APC leaders in their various local government areas.

It was learnt that Amaechi, who is the immediate past governor of the state, was dissatisfied with some of the APC leaders’ decision to support the governorship ambition of the lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe.

One of those said to have been sacked by the minister is his former commissioner for justice, Mr. Worgu Boms, who was the APC leader in Port Harcourt LGA.

Amaechi also warned that he would not hesitate to suspend any leader of the APC in the state found to be supporting Abe’s interest to become the next governor of the state.

The former governor was said to have met with some stakeholders of the party in Port Harcourt on Thursday and told them that Abe would not be the governorship candidate on the platform of the APC in 2019.

It was learnt from sources that in another stakeholders’ meeting held in Etche LGA, the minister had stated that he would determine who would be the APC candidate in the 2019 governorship election.

He was said to have pointed out that Abe would not get the governorship ticket, even if the APC leaders in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State supported him.

When contacted to react to the comments allegedly made by Amaechi, Abe described himself as someone loyal to democratic principles, adding that anybody who tried to crucify him as a result of his belief was on his own.

Abe, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Parry Benson, urged APC leaders in the state to adhere to the dictates of the constitution of the party before taking decisions.

According to the senator, “APC is a vehicle for the realisation of the Nigerian dream and not a weapon to mete out injustice to its members.”

One of the affected APC leaders in Obio/Akpor LGA, Chief Tony Okocha, confirmed that the removal of some APC leaders at the LGA level by Ameachi was based on their support for Abe.

Okocha, who was Chief of Staff to Amaechi, noted that he and other APC leaders were supporting Abe to become the party’s candidate, but that Amaechi rejected him and insisted on bringing another candidate.

Okocha said, “Wogu Boms has just been removed now as APC leader in Port Harcourt LGA and he has been replaced with Nnamdi Wokekoro. His (Amaechi) reason is that Wogu Boms is supporting Magnus Abe.

“He is also meeting with people in my LGA to remove me because I am supporting Magnus Abe. He is also meeting with Etche LGA to removed Allwell Onyeso, and very soon he will be meeting with people in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA to remove Senator Wilson Ake.”

Source:- Punchng