Ahead the general poll slated for February, 2015 uncertainties are beginning to trail the chances of the opposition All Progressives Congress APC, in Rivers following the spate of petitions and protests greeting most of the preferred aspirants by the power blocs in the party across the respective local government areas.
The Newswriter’s political desk had it on good authority that numerous aspirants of the party vying for either the State House of Assembly seat, Federal constituency seat, senatorial seat and of course the governorship race are now being attacked by fellow members who consider their aspirations as a shortcut and means for the party’s failure.
Prior to this week, the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers chapter of the party protested for what it considered as an imposition of aspirant/candidate on them, and vowed to resist any further move by the state governor.
The Okrika Local Government chapter of the party has also raised alarm rejecting the move to crown its former council chairman, Barrister Tamuno Williams as the consensus candidate while there are many who have purchased the party nomination forms for the house of Assembly.
The people of Okrika and APC are opposed to imposition of Barr. Williams on all by a man, saying that the approval of Williams by the state screening committee would amount to APC losing Okrika for the opposition parties and called on the state chairman Davies Ikanya to set up what it called interactive committee in the stead of screening committee, while wondering what Barr. Tamuno Williams have to offer the people if his 3 year in office as chairman was fruitless.
In the Andoni Local Government Area chapter, home LGA of the state chairman of APC chief Hon. Davies Ibiamu Patrick Ikanya and the Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, there have been serious contention over who flies the party’s flag for the state Assembly seat.
Trouble started when four members of the party, Dr. Dressman Romsan and Engr. Clifford Njah, Hon. Betinah and Hon. Charity Willington all allegedly belonging to separate blocs in the party picked the nomination forms for the State Assembly.
Dr. Dressman and Engr. Clifford belong to the state deputy governors and state party chairman’s blocs respectively. While those of the Ikanya’s bloc are worried over the emergence of Dr. Dressman of the Ikuru’s camp, there are jubilations in that camp on the candidature of the sociable medical doctor who many sees as the best candidate for the State House of Assembly job for the APC.
The Ikanya group are also accusing the deputy governor for floating Dr. Dressman who they believe could not deliver the party at the general election, positing that the deputy governor features an unpopular aspirant to ensure PDP’s victory at the poll if he finally becomes the APC candidate, and vowed to resist the move of the medical doctor emerging APC candidate.
The Ikanya camp however, considers Chief, Engr. Clifford as the best material to challenge the PDP in the area, adding that Engineer Clifford and Hon. Ibani are from Ataba community, while Dr. Dressman hails from Asarama community, and stand a better chance to win Andoni for the APC.
But, report has it that those on the Ikuru’s camp are tirelessly working round the clock to ensure victory at all levels, having formed majority in the party.
Apart from these 3 LGAs, there are indications that other LGA’s such as Ikwerre are having similar difficulties that has kept the state officers on their toes, brainstorming on the way forward since last weekend.
In Ikwerre LGA, the people are against the supposed candidature and return of the serving member in the house rather are in support of the candidature of one Mr. Carl Elechi Amadi whom they believed to be peoples friendly and has the capacity to represent them. ###
