From Blessing Mbonu, Port Harcourt
The Congress election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held on Saturday in Rivers State, was smooth and free of any kind of crisis across the 23 local government Areas of the state.
The Congress which was held by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi’s faction of APC in Rivers elected new executives to man the affairs of the party in the state.
Some of the newly elected Chairmen include; Emma Orlu, elected APC chairman of Port Harcourt LGA, AkpoBari Celestine was elected APC Chairman of Khana LGA and George Nwanjoku was elected as the new chairman of the party in Etche LGA
Hon. Frank Eze Aribodor was as chairman of the party in Ikwerre Local Government, the LGA of the Minister of Transportation and Hon. Austin Asomeji was reelected Chairman of APC in Emohua LGA.
Spokesman of the Caretaker Committee of party in the state, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, who spoke on the election, said the election was peaceful and smooth, adding that the party was now positioned to take over power in the state.
Chief Nwuke expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the election and commended party members for the successful election.
He said: “The Congress went on smoothly across the entire state. Frankly, the turnout was impressive, delegates performed their duties, functions and elected new leaders at the grassroots.
“The congress held in the 23 local government areas of the state and we are happy that the party members were in a good mood and the process was peaceful.
“The delegates voted and the bottom line is that officials of the party at the local government level have been elected.
“Party members came out en masse and voted peaceful. There is no report of violence or misunderstanding anywhere. What has happened is that the will of the people and the party has come to stand.
“What is clear is that there is not encumbrance anywhere, there is not order from any superior court anywhere stopping APC from going on with the congress.
“The congress has been conducted and I assure you that no two situations are the same. What happened in 2018/2019 will not repeat. We are united as a party and the party is on course.
“It is clear that we will take over the state and remain in power across the country. There is better understanding in APC.”
Meanwhile, the Sen. Magnus Abe’s faction of the party did not participate in the Congress.
Some of the members who refused to be mentioned in the media said, they stand with the leader that the right thing should be done in the process of the election, adding that there is already an existing suit in the regard.
It would be recalled that the former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Sen. Magnus Abe, had rejected the ward congresses of APC held across Rivers State.
Abe had stated that the congress did not follow a due process, stressed that his faction of the party had submitted a petition to the national secretariat of the party on the development.
Abe explained that his supporters did not just shun the congreses, but they were not given opportunity for fair play, thereby denied them access to participate in the process.
The former senator insisted that the right thing should be done by the leadership of the party to end all forms of grievances.
