The rival camps of a former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike and his estranged successor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara have engaged each other on a fierce battle over the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
It was gathered that the battle was relaunched following the recent order of the state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt that sacked the Aaron Chukwuemeka-led state executive committee of the party loyal to Wike.
On January 13th the court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Stephen Jumbo restrained the ward, local government and state executive committees of the PDP led by Chukwuemeka, from parading themselves as executive members of the party in the state.
The presiding judge gave the restraining order while ruling on interlocutory injunction filed by two Port Harcourt-based legal practitioners, Edwin Woko, Love Otuonye and two others.
The order, it was learnt, provided a leeway for Fubara’s men to launch a takeover bid of the state’s PDP, which hitherto was under the control of Wike and his camp.
Fubara’s man and Chairman of the PDP in Rivers West Senatorial District, Robinson Ewor, immediately declared himself the acting state Chairman of the party.
He immediately drew up a list of caretaker committee members from the state to the ward levels and vowed to lead his group to take over the Secretariat of the party.
The action of the Ewor-led group caused panic in the state and rattled the Chukwuemeka-led camp forcing the Wike’s group to immediately occupy the secretariat on Thursday.
The tension created by the development also compelled a detachment of the police to barricade the road leading to the party’s secretariat located on Aba Road.
Party leaders in Wike’s camp were seen trooping into the secretariat to pay solidarity visits to Chukwuemeka.
It was gathered that the first set of leaders to storm the secretariat for a solidarity was the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
Amaewhule led them into the secretariat and declared his support for Chukwuemeka and Wike.
A statement signed by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant on Media Martins Wachukwu confirmed the solidarity visit.
But Amaewhule said it was a new year visit and emphasised the Assembly’s unwavering commitment to the PDP and its leadership.
He said: “We are here specifically for a new year solidarity visit. We are happy we have seen the year 2025.”
Amaewhule praised Chukwuemeka’s exemplary leadership saying: “You have piloted the affairs of the party with excellence, and we have no doubt in your ability to lead the PDP to victory in future elections. Do not lose sleep over detractors; whatever we are doing as a party will end in praise”.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s loyalty to the party and to Wike, describing him as a “square peg in a square hole”, and commended his exceptional performance as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Chukwuemeka on his part expressed his gratitude to the Assembly members for the visit, calling it a significant honor.
He reassured them of the party’s strength and dismissed claims by the Fubara’s ythat they were not PDP loyalists.
“It is laughable when people claim the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are not PDP members. They are bona fide members of our great party,” he said.
Chukwuemeka also held a press briefing to address the emergence of the Ewor-led group insisting that his executive committee remained intact.
He said: “This morning, I deemed it fit that we will address a press conference to the whole so that they will be aware of what we are doing in PDP Rivers State.
“Some people are trying to misinform the public but I want to say that here we are today is the state secretariat of the PDP in Rivers, ably led by myself, Chukwuemeka Aaron as the state chairman of this party.
“I was duly elected, all the excos that were elected with me are here seated. We started as caretaker committee of our party and we were saddled with the responsibility of conducting a fresh election to usher in a duly elected state, local government and ward exercutives.
“And that mandate that was given to me and the caretaker members then we were saddled with the responsibility of selling forms to party members who are interested to run the election and which we did. Those who were interested to run for the election bought forms.”
While denying allegations of defection, Chukwuemeka said: “I have laboured for this party since 1999, and I have served in various capacities, including LGA party secretary, LGA party chairman, deputy state chairman, and now state chairman. I have never decamped from the PDP, and I remain committed to the party’s ideals and values.”
Chukwuemeka criticized those he referred to as the “APP party” for fomenting trouble and trying to create a parallel PDP in the state.
He accused them of being anti-party and trying to undermine the legitimate leadership of the party.
The chairman also addressed the recent court ruling that purportedly sacked him and other party executives.
He claimed that they were not party to the suit and were not aware of who represented them in court describing the judgment as “not executory” and vowed to appeal it.
Chukwuemeka called on Governor Fubara to allow peace to reign in the state and to stop fomenting trouble for the party.
He said: “This is office, we have taken possession and we can not leave here, whatever court judgement they have gotten we are going to appeal it. We will follow the due processes and ensure that there is peace and order in the state.
“We need peace in Rivers State, and we cannot continue to file one litigation after another,” Chukwuemeka.We are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, and we will not be intimidated by those who seek to undermine our party.”
But Ewor countered Chukwuemeka saying his committee was no longer in existence in the eyes of the law.
Ewor said following the disposition of the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, as a peacemaker, his faction decided to drop its earlier plan to take over the secretariat of the PDP.
The acting chairman vowed to suspend or sack members found guilty of anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections.
He said plans were underway to set up a disciplinary committee to address anti-party activities, particularly during the 2023 general elections.
Ewor emphasised the party’s commitment to upholding its supremacy, implementing its manifesto and constitution, and working with the national leadership.
He said: “We shall also in the next few days set up a disciplinary committee to deal with issues of anti party activities especially during the 2023 general elections and beyond and every other activities by party members that are capable of bringing the party to disrepute.
“Those that are found wanting shall be disciplined appropriately including but not limited to suspension, sacking and sanctions that are known to the party Constitution.
“The party is supreme, we shall uphold the supremacy of the party. We shall implement the manifesto of the party and Constitution.”
Ewor said security agencies had advised the party to shelve its plans to take over the secretariat, as they were already on ground to prevent any potential violence.
He said his faction heeded the advice in line with the peaceful disposition of Fubara, whom he said had earned accolades for his approach to issues.
Ewor assured that under the new leadership, the party would work towards healing and rebuilding, with a focus on restoring lost hope across the state’s 23 local government areas and 319 electoral wards.
He outlined plans to consult with stakeholders, unite members, and embark on sensitization tours and membership drives.
He called on the national leadership to recognise Fubara as the leader of the party in the state and to work with the new leadership at the state, local government, and ward levels.
