It was yet another day of commotion and confusion in Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday. From the Rivers came the news that all the constitutional delegates of PDP in the state had boycotted the party’s special national convention billed for Abuja, the Nigerian capital, tomorrow. This was even as a court in the state capital, Port Harcourt, ordered the party to field Comrade Tony Nwoye as its candidate in the November 16 Anambra State governorship election in direct contradiction of an earlier ruling by another court rcognising Senator Andy Uba as the party’s rightful candidate for the election.

RIVERS DELEGATES BOYCOTT CONVENTION

Chairman of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly, Honourable Asita, said the national leadership of the PDP had failed, disclosing that all the party’s stakeholders in the state had met and decided to boycott the mini convention.

Ho. Asita spoke at a news conference in Port Harcourt attended by Dakuku Peterside (Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency), Ogbonna Nwuke (Etche/Omuma), Blessing Nsiegbe (Port Harcourt 2), Morris Pronen (Khana/Gokana), Barry Mpigi (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo) and Bright Gogo (Okrika-Ogu/Bolo).

Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning Tammy Danagogo spoke on behalf of the members of the Executive Council. The representative of Gokana Constituency in the House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor, spoke on behalf of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Amaechi.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, Chimbiko Iche Akarolo, who is also the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government, spoke on behalf of the 23 council chairmen.

The Publicity Secretary of the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive of the PDP in Rivers State, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, spoke on behalf of the leadership of the party, while the chairmen of the PDP in the 23 local government areas was represented by Daere Samuel-Horsfall of Asari-Toru Local Government Area.

Asita said: “We have watched with pain, with shock and deep agony, the gradual disintegration of our party in the past few months. We are worried and traumatised that this party, the PDP, which most of us have invested all our political lives to build, is gradually degenerating into a rather shameful association of people without character.

“We are worried that the leadership of the party at the centre refuses to take credible steps that will reposition the party in Rivers State, to enable it to control the support that it has enjoyed from inception.

“We are indeed worried about the rascality in which the activities of the party are carried out in Rivers State. We are aware that the mini convention of the party is on Saturday. We had hoped that the party at the centre would take steps to put things right over what our party in recent times gliding into disrepute.

“We have, as the duly elected delegates to the national convention of the party, by virtue of our offices, come to the conclusion that because the party at the centre has failed in its duties to put the party right in Rivers State, especially the illegal and unconstitutional suspension of our leader, the governor of Rivers State, we believe that the best thing to do in the circumstance, in solidarity with our governor, is to boycott the convention for Saturday.

“We believe that this is the best thing to do. So, we have interacted with the different delegates to the convention. I am speaking as the Chairman of the National Assembly Caucus of Rivers State and I have interacted with members of the National Assembly. Ten members of the House of Representatives and two Senators support this boycott.

“I am aware that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also have supported this boycott. The 23 council chairmen of Rivers State, who are delegates to the convention, have also agreed to this boycott, as well as the party chairmen of the 23 local government areas, who are equally delegates to the convention. We also have with us members of the state executive council, who are also entitled as delegates to the convention to vote at the convention.

“We understand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that those who are entitled to participate and vote at this convention are those who were so qualified at the last convention.

“We, therefore, state that anybody who claims to represent Rivers State at the convention, is not representing us, because we have decided to boycott the convention, in solidarity with our governor, who by virtue of the illegal suspension, is unable to attend the convention.”

Reacting swiftly to the development, factional Rivers PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, described Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his loyalists as “frustrated”. He said in a statement, his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, noted that the boycott was not unexpected “in view of the way and manner Amaechi and his followers have been carrying on, with no regard for party rules and regulations.”

UBA BROTHERS SUSPENDED

In Abuja, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) brought down the hammer on the Chairman, Senate Committee Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba, and his younger borther, Chief Chris Uba. Also suspended were the factional PDP Anambra Chairman, Chief Ejike Oguebego, Benjamin Udeozor; and Mrs. Anthonia Nwankwu, for conducting a parallel state congress which produced Senator Uba as the party’s governorship candidate for the November ballot.

Reacting to the news, Chief Chris Uba said the news came as a surprise to them.

NWOYE IS RIGHTFUL CANDIDATE FOR ANAMBRA GUBER ELECTION —COURT

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered PDP to abide by results of the ward and state congresses supervised by the national secretariat of the party in the selection of its governorship candidate. The ward and state congresses eventually produced Comrade Tony Nwoye as the party’s flag bearer.

The court order is contrary to another interim order obtained earlier in the week by the Ejike Oguebego faction from a different Federal High Court justice in the same city compelling INEC to accept Senator Andy Uba as the party’s flag bearer.

•Photo shows PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur.