Tonye Cole displaying the ballot paper advertising AAC to his supporters.
By Matthew Don
A faction of the Rivers State All Progressive Congress (APC) has told the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi that the members are not going to heed his directive that they vote for the candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the Saturday, March 9 governorship and Assembly elections.
Amaechi had told the Rivers APC to vote for the AAC, Lulu Briggs since the APc does not have a candidate due to irreconcilable differences between him and senator Magnus Abe over the control of the party in Rivers state.
Amaechi preferred Tonye Cole whose candidacy was rejected by the courts as prayed by Abe who protested the process of his emergence as the APC candidate for the governorship in Rivers state.
Peter Odike said in a statement on Friday that the last thing they will do is to obey Amaechi on the directive, saying the minister was instrumental to the Rivers APC not having an candidate. He said the former governor was seeking to rule the state again through the back door.
Odike who is faction chairman of the APC in Rivers said: “The Attention of The All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State Chapter has been drawn to a directive from the Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to members of the party in the state to vote for the Candidates of the AFRICAN ACTION CONGRESS (AAC) in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections On Saturday, 9th March 2019.
“I Prince Peter Odike, JP, the State Chairman of The All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State Chapter, On behalf of the State Working Committee of the Party hereby calls on all members and Supporters of the party in Rivers State to discountenance the said directive of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“Let me inform Our members and Supporters that the matter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Rivers State is presently pending before the Supreme Court and that the party never held any meeting in which the decision to enter into any alliance with any other party was reached. Let it also be known that the Minister For Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is completely acting as an individual on this matter.
“Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi cannot play the ostrich and cannot be allowed to be next Governor or Rivers state through the back door after attempting to destroy the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
“I am therefore calling on all Faithful members and Supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers state to continue to remain steadfast and to maintain their faith in the Supreme Court of Nigeria to restore our candidates on the ballot for the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections in Rivers State.”
Abe had earlier advised his supporters to ignore Amaechi’s directive while Tonye was seen on Facebook displaying the ballot paper where he wanted the APC members to cast their ballot for the AAC.