The Nigeria police force, Rivers state command today Thursday January 16, 2025, averted bloodshed at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Port Harcourt,when two factions attempted to takeover the place.
It was gathered that plans by the Acting Executive Committee led by Robinson Nname-Ewor, loyal to Gov. Siminialayi Fubara was leaked to the faction led by Aaron Chukwuemeka, who is said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
This, it was learnt, prompted the Wike’s faction to mobilise to the secretariat as crowds of party supporters gathered both inside and outside the secretariat, reflecting the charged atmosphere.
It took.the quick intervention of the police that barricaded the road leading to the Party’s secretariat on Aba Road to force both factions to suspend their plans.
Although the planned takeover was suspended, both factions held separate press briefings to assert their authority, underscoring the deepening crisis within the party.
Aaron Chukwuemeka, leader of the restrained executive, “criticised the growing number of court cases involving the party and appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to prioritise peace.”
State Legal Adviser Kingsley Chuku (SAN) revealed that “while the party had yet to receive the court ruling, it planned to appeal the decision once the records were available.”
Chukwuemeka and Chuku also accused members of the Acting Executive of being affiliated with the All People’s Party, claiming they had no authority to lead the PDP.
At a separate event, Robinson Nname-Ewor, Acting Chairman of the PDP, announced that the “planned takeover of the secretariat had been suspended to avoid escalation.”
However, he laid out demands for resolving the party’s crisis, including reinstating leadership under Fubara and recognising the Acting Executive at the state level.
Nname-Ewor also “disclosed plans to establish a disciplinary committee to investigate alleged anti-party activities, particularly those linked to the 2023 general elections.”
