In a shocking turn of events, several high-ranking members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, including caretaker committee chairmen appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have defected to the Action People’s Party (APP) to contest in the upcoming local government elections on October 5 ¹. This mass exodus is a result of the internal crisis plaguing the PDP, which has never lost control of local government since 1999.
*Key Defectors:*
– _Chijioke Ihunwo_ – Obio/Akpor
– _Ezebunwo Ichemati_ – Port Harcourt
– _Brain Gokpa_ – Eleme
– _David Omereji_ – Emohua
– _John Ngubo-Otamiri_ – Etche
– _Promise Reginald_ – Omuma
– _Mathew Dike_ – Tai
Additionally, notable personalities have also joined the APP, including:
– _Igwe Access_ – former National President of NUPENG, contesting for Okirika Local Government Area
– _Isaac Umejuru_ – serving Commissioner for Urban Development, contesting for Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni
– _Ms Tonye Oniyide-Briggs_ – former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, contesting for Akuku-Toru
– _Dr. Harry Agiriye_ – Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service
The PDP’s decision to abstain from the polls, citing litigation as the reason, has paved the way for other parties to gain traction ¹. With 18 political parties, including a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), contesting in the elections, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) is determined to conduct the polls as scheduled.
As the election approaches, political observers are watching closely to see how the PDP’s withdrawal will impact its long-standing dominance in the state. This could mark a significant shift in Rivers State’s local government administration and political landscape ² ¹. Will the APP capitalize on the PDP’s absence to make history? Only time will tell.
