By Onyeche Igwe
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, has criticized the 27 lawmakers from the state House of Assembly who have denied their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Beke, an ally of former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, asserted that these lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, cannot deny their membership in the APC after openly defecting.
Beke made these remarks at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Saturday, in response to Amaewhule’s recent claims that he and his colleagues were still members of the PDP.
The pro-Wike lawmakers had announced their defection to the APC amid a political crisis involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, former Governor Nyesom Wike, and current Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In the wake of their announcement, pro-Fubara lawmakers filed a lawsuit to declare the seats of the pro-Wike lawmakers vacant. Additionally, the Action Peoples Party initiated a suit against them at the Federal High Court in Abuja. However, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the APP’s suit on Friday, deeming it statute-barred.
Following the judgment, the pro-Wike lawmakers denied their defection to the APC. In response, Beke described their denial as “shameful.”
He stated, “I want to put it on record that those 27 members of the House of Assembly are still members of the APC. The law is clear on defection. They cannot run away from the truth because we all know and saw it when they defected to our party.”
Beke emphasized that their defection was publicly celebrated, recalling a reception ceremony hosted by Tony Okocha, who then claimed to be the CTC Chairman of Rivers State APC. “They cannot sheepishly make a U-turn and yet be celebrated by the same Tony Okocha whom they are now denying. What a shame,” he added.
Beke indicated that appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against the pro-Wike lawmakers after the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024. He mentioned that the party had fully prepared to participate in these elections.
“In our last meeting, we sent out invitations for them (the pro-Wike lawmakers) to attend, but they did not. Right now, we are focused on local government elections, and after that, we will take necessary actions concerning them,” he stated.
He also confirmed that all APC candidates for the elections had been screened and cleared by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). “The APC will take part in the forthcoming local government elections on October 5. Our candidates have been screened and cleared,” he declared.
Beke asserted that the court ruling by Justice Aprioku, which recognized him as the elected chairman of the party in the state, had not been overturned.
“Nothing will stop the APC from participating fully in the local government elections. If anyone claims otherwise, I have instructed our lawyers to secure a warrant of arrest because, as a party, we believe in the rule of law,” he said.
He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for providing a level playing field for all political parties in the upcoming elections.
“This is the first time in the history of politics in Rivers State that we are seeing a governor who is ready to give all parties the opportunity to test their popularity, allowing Rivers people to elect their preferred chairmen and councillors,” he stated.
