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The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has uncovered a plan by the six rebel lawmakers in the state to hold an illegal sitting at the State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the purpose of impeaching Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. APC, however, warned the dissident legislators not to go ahead with the plan, which it condemned as evil and dangerous.
“This warning is necessitated by the credible information at our disposal to the effect that this inconsequential minority in a State House of Assembly of 32 members after failing this morning to be smuggled into the State House of Assembly by some hoodlums that will be dressed in police uniform by 6am through eastern by pass and guided by some GDI officials, has changed its line of action by concluding to sit at the Rivers State PDP Secretariat within the week starting from 17th December, 2013 to impeach the Governor and announce the self-proclaimed Speaker, Hon. Evans Bipi, as the acting Governor of the State while imaginary crimes would be used as an excuse by the EFCC to arrest Governor Amaechi. The resort to sitting at the PDP Secretariat, we understand, is occasioned by the failure of the rebel lawmakers to gain access to the State House of Assembly, to which the police has also denied the majority 28 lawmakers access,” APC said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, SSA Media and Public Affairs to the APC Interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
APC said it has “never seen where lawmakers sit in a party secretariat to carry out any business of the House and we wish to say in advance that any such action would be null and void and of no consequence whatsoever.” The party warned “Bipi and his co-conspirators to exercise restraint because there is a limit to rebellion,” adding: “We also wish to call on the police to promptly seal off the Rivers State PDP Secretariat to prevent it from being used to perpetrate this illegality which, if allowed to be implemented, will trigger crisis of unimaginable proportions in the state and beyond.
“Hon. Bipi the self-acclaimed Speaker who expressed frustration on why the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu is no longer ready to play game boasted to some of his aides and admirers that they have been directed to impeach Gov Amaechi within 17th to 24th December, 2013 as he is not be allowed to do his Christmas event in the Brick House (Government House) of Rivers State for whatever reason not minding whatever consequences it will bring to democracy in Nigeria and the people of Rivers State.”
•Photo shows a detachment of policemen preventing lawmakers from accessing the Rivers House of Assembly last week.