The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, has launched a blistering attack on 27 lawmakers from the state House of Assembly, accusing them of hypocrisy after they denied defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Beke, a close ally of former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, expressed astonishment at the lawmakers’ claims, led by Martin Amaewhule, that they remain loyal to the PDP, despite openly announcing their defection to the APC.
Addressing a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Beke responded to Amaewhule’s denial, calling it “shameful” and insisting that the lawmakers had publicly celebrated their move to the APC in full view of the party and the public.
“These 27 members cannot deny their affiliation with the APC after their public defection,” Beke said, recalling a reception ceremony hosted by Tony Okocha, the former caretaker chairman of the Rivers APC, to welcome the lawmakers. “They cannot sheepishly make a U-turn and be celebrated by the same Tony Okocha, whom they now seek to distance themselves from. What a shame.”
The pro-Wike legislators initially switched to the APC amid a political crisis that pitted former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, against the current Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Following their defection, pro-Fubara lawmakers sought to have their seats declared vacant, and the Action Peoples Party (APP) filed a lawsuit challenging their defection. However, on Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the APP’s case as statute-barred.
Despite this legal victory, the lawmakers denied any ties to the APC, sparking Beke’s sharp response. He suggested that disciplinary measures would be taken against the pro-Wike faction following the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024. “We invited them to our last meeting, and they failed to attend. After the elections, we will address their actions appropriately,” Beke said.
He also confirmed that APC candidates had been cleared to participate in the elections, and emphasized that the party was prepared to fully engage in the local polls. “Nothing will stop the APC from participating in the elections. If anyone claims otherwise, I’ve instructed our lawyers to secure a warrant of arrest because we believe in the rule of law,” Beke declared.
He further praised Governor Fubara for providing a level playing field ahead of the elections, marking what he described as an unprecedented openness in Rivers State’s political landscape. “For the first time, a governor is allowing all political parties to test their popularity, giving Rivers people the chance to elect their preferred leaders,” Beke concluded.
With tensions mounting ahead of the elections, the defection saga has become a flashpoint in the broader battle for political control in Rivers State, where party allegiances and personal rivalries continue to shape the state’s tumultuous political landscape.
