30th July, 2017
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, representing Rivers South East constituency in the National Assembly has vowed that nobody can push him and his supporters out of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
He said they would remain and fight impunity and ensure that there is internal democracy where party members are allowed to freely choose who leads and represents them.
Senator Abe advised those who are nursing the feelings that he and his loyalists would be blackmailed or frustrated out of the party to perish the thought because he is going nowhere despite the trials he has been through.
“If I was a politician who runs whenever anybody shouts, I won’t be here. I am one of those who struggled to build this party in the state. No amount of intimidation or “magomago” will make me leave the party. At the end, it is the people who will decide their leaders.
We are members of one party, whatever we do, we must struggle and protect our party,” Abe said
On his part, Chidi Wihioka, a member representing Ikwerre/Emohua federal constituency, said what happened yesterday was that the leaders of the party sent to conduct the non elective Congress were holed up in Novotel hotel in Port Harcourt writing the results while party supporters were waiting at the party secretariat and different local government areas for materials for the congress.
Barry Mbigi, representing Tai-Eleme-Oyigbo federal constituency expressed disappointment because “the other faction (Amaechi) was afraid of a healthy contest and they are afraid that in the 23 LGAs we are more popular and on ground. So, they decided to sit in a hotel and write results they will send to Abuja. This is why we are protesting. As a result, the Congress didn’t hold.
Sensing that there will be a breakdown of law and other, the Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, stepped in and brokered peace between the two factions.