The State Executive Council (SEC), of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, have reportedly suspended the chairman of the party, Chief Emeka Beke.
The suspension followed alleged anti-party activities and financial misappropriation by the embattled state chairman of the party, Emeka Beke.
In a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday, the SEC also accused the state leader of the party and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi of mobilizing members of the APC in the state to vote for the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar in the February 28 elections.
Enginda Chikere who read a text at a press conference called the national chairman of the APC, Abubakar Adani to set up a panel to investigate the financial activities of the party in Rivers State.
The committee also appointed Omiete Eferebo as the new Acting Chairman of the party.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Obio-Akpor Constituency 2 in the just-concluded House of Assembly election in Rivers State, Alex Wele, has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking with journalists on the development yesterday in Port Harcourt, Wele said APC did not prepare for the elections and had no strategy in place for winning the elections.
Wele, who congratulated the PDP candidate, Emilia Lucky Amadi for her victory at the House of Assembly election to Obio/ Akpor Constituency 2, said he would rather promote peace in his LGA than continue battling at the election tribunal.
He also said APC does not have the funds to go to tribunal, alleging that the governorship candidate, Tonye Cole hardly connected himself with other APC candidates, regretting that the election was a one-way traffic as candidates were all left on their own.
Weli said the candidates have been urged to contribute money for the journey to the tribunal which he said was not necessary to him because he needed peace of mind.
Wele said:”I have chosen not to be on the dilemma side any longer, APC had no plans to win the 2023 elections. In all the meetings we attended prior to the election, there was no strategy on how to win elections. We all know that there was a looming disaster in Rivers APC.
“So, that’s why I have chosen to leave the party peacefully. 2023 is the worst election we have ever witnessed, there was no plan and preparation to win by APC.
“Naturally, those who won will be celebrating their victory while those who lost will be pursuing their case at the election petition tribunal as the law requires of them to do in a civil democratic environment.
“For me as the candidate of the APC for Rivers State House of Assembly Obio/Akpor Constituency 2, I have decided not to challenge the outcome of the March 18, 2023 elections at the tribunal for the overall interest, stability and unity of our Constituency in particular and our dear Local Government Area, Obio/Akpor at large.
“Accordingly, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, I warmly congratulate our dear wife and mother, Lady Emilia Lucky Amadi on her victory at the polls and subsequent election into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent me and the good people of Obio/ Akpor Constituency 2.”
He, however, congratulated Siminalaye Fubara for his victory at the guber election, stressing that “He meets my requirement for equity and social justice to the Riverine Communities on one part and to the South- East Senatorial District on the other Part, having in mind that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, before now, has never produced a Governor in the history of Rivers State”.
Wele added that with his defection to PDP he has reached the end of an era in his political life and the beginning of another.
