Rivers APC crisis: Wike’s loyalists urge Ganduje to ignore Amaechi’s camp

A Faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), loyal to the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Governor Nyesom Wike has called on the National Chairman of the ruling party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje to ignore Rotimi Amaechi’s camp and avoid giving appointments to them.

Rotimi Amaechi was also a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He contested the APC Presidential primaries in the last general election.

Speaking at a meeting with Ganduje at the party headquarters on Thursday, the group led by Chief Tony Okocha, alleged that Amaechi’s camp did not deserve any appointment from the party because they did not support President Bola Tinubu during the general election.

They argued that the group had long abandoned the APC and were not qualified to speak for the APC in Rivers State in any forum or fora.

Wike’s loyalists however called on Ganduje to respect the existing court order that endorsed the expulsion of the Amaechi’s loyalists, including Tonye Cole and Dakuku Peterside.

They further urged the National Chairman to reach out to them through their leader who is the current Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike for appointments.

“We pray Mr Chairman to discountenance the machinations of the pretenders, who via hues and cries and trumping up lies, want to negate the Natural law that aptly recommends that “One reaps where one sows.

“Those persons never supported the Party nor are they sincere in their hearts, to be happy that President Tinubu made it to the Presidency.

“Mr. Chairman, we summarise that the only group in APC Rivers State legitimate to seek compensation for the victory of APC/Tinubu in RIvers State, is the one here. Please contact us through the leader of the Political infantry in Rivers State, who is serving in the Federal Cabinet presently”, they added.

In his response, the APC National Chairman said he is aware that the party in the state is highly factiona.

He assured that the National leadership will ensure that the crisis in the state is addressed.

He also advised the party members not to overheat the already tense situation in the state.

“Our party in Rivers State is highly fictionalized, that is a fact about it. Our party in Rivers State was killed by litigations, that one is a fact.

“Yes, there is confusion in the party, but we don’t want members to overheat the system. We are focused, we are organized and we work scientifically in politics.

“Give us a chance so that we can put a round peg in a round hole, square peg in a square hole, so that we maintain our dignity as a party”, he added.