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There was tension in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday as police barricaded part of the road leading to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat along Aba Road.
The development came amid reports that the newly constituted Acting Executive Committee of the party, formed after a court nullified the elected executive, planned to take over the secretariat complex.
Although the planned takeover by the Acting Executive Committee was suspended, both sides held separate briefings to assert their authority over the party, signaling that the crisis was far from being resolved.
There was also a crowd of party supporters both within and outside the party’s secretariat complex.
The Aaron Chukwuemeka-led executives of the party that was recently restrained from functioning by a High Court in the state lamented the multiplicity of court processes even as the factional chairman appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to allow peace reign in the party.
The State Legal Adviser, Kingsley Chuku (SAN), however, said the party was yet to receive a copy of the court ruling. He noted that the government has applied for a record of proceedings and though they’re yet to receive it, the government would appeal it when it eventually comes out.
Chukwuemeka and Chuku said those who have constituted themselves as an acting executive have no power to do so as they’re members of All People’s Party (APP), and not PDP.
At a separate venue, members of the Acting Executive of the PDP at both the State and Local Government levels gather to also address the press.
They had originally planned to take control of the PDP State Secretariat. However, the Acting Chairman, Robinson Nname-Ewor, disclosed that the plan is suspended to avoid any potential crisis.
Nname-Ewor also outlined conditions for the continued existence of the PDP in Rivers State, including the reinstatement of the party’s leadership in the state under Governor Siminalayi Fubara and formal recognition of the Acting Executive at the state level.
Additionally, the executive announced plans to set up a disciplinary committee to investigate alleged anti-party activities, particularly those linked to the 2023 general elections.
Despite a temporary suspension of plans to take over the secretariat, the escalating tension and unresolved grievances signal that the party’s challenges are far from over.
