The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state “dead and buried” following the registration yesterday of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as an APC member, thus permanently terminating his relationship with PDP.

Governor Amaechi and his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, registered at about 11am in his native Ubima at Ward 8, Unit 14, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State. They were accompanied to Ubima for the registration exercise by several political heavyweights in the state, among them the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, the APC interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Hon. Igo Igoma (former member, House of Representatives), and Dr. Sam Jaja, former Deputy National Chairman of PDP – all of whom have already registered as APC members.

Governor Amaechi’s registration as preceded on Monday by that of Deputy Governor Ikuru, his wife, Dr. Mina Ikuru, and Dr. Ikanya himself, amongst others, who formally registered for APC at Ikuru Town in Ward 5, Andoni Local Government Area of the State.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Ikanya described the registration of Governor Amaechi and his Deputy for APC as “the final nail of PDP in Rivers State,” adding: “I hereby declare PDP dead and buried in Rivers State and never to rise again. The journey now begins for the total liberation of Rivers State and the entire Nigeria from the strangulating grip of PDP. Chief Nyesom Wike, Brother Felix Obuah, Mr. Jerry Needam and few misguided elements still left in the sinking ship of PDP can now go ahead to start their mourning session”

The State APC Interim Chairman described Engr. Tele Ikuru’s registration as being very significant considering Ikuru’s relationship with PDP’s Deputy National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus. According to him, “The Deputy Governor being the cousin of the Deputy National Chairman, his registration as an APC member is a powerful signal to the PDP that its days in our dear State are gone for good.” Dr. Ikanya eulogized Engr. Ikuru, saying that “this epochal step taken by him, apart from exposing him as a true gentleman also shows him to be a very loyal party man whose commitment and dedication to Governor Amaechi is a study in humility and forthrightness and should be emulated by all and sundry.” He added that with Ikuru in APC, Governor Amaechi can now go to sleep as he will bring to bear his winning streak that will formally bury PDP both in Andoni and Rivers State at large.

Dr Ikanya also commended and congratulated the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Amachree D. Otelemaba; Senator Magnus Abe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream); Senator Wilson Ake; Chief Andrew Uchendu; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside; Dr. George Dawari; Hon. Ogbona Nwuke; Mr. George Feyi, Rivers State Secretary of Government (SSG) “amongst other greats for registering and identifying with the mission of APC to rescue Nigerians from the hands of evil and undemocratic elements in PDP.”

Dr. Ikanya concluded by urging those yet to register with APC to troop out en masse to do so before the on-going registration exercise ends on Wednesday as that will make them co-founders of the party, promising that the party would never let them down. “This exercise differs from that of PDP that does its registration in the rooms of the bigwigs of the party to the detriment of majority of Nigerians,” he said.

•Photo (R-L) shows Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, and his wife, Dr. Mina Ikuru, flanked from right to left by Interim State Chairman of APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Chairman, APC Registration Committee for Rivers State, Engr. Ebeitei Francis, Secretary of the committee, Mr. Josef Omorotionmwan, and Secretary, APC, Andoni LGA, Hon. Kingston Sylvanus, displaying their membership registration slips shortly after their registration on Monday at Ikuru Town in Ward 5, Andoni Local Government Area.