Barely two years to the 2027 Governorship election in Rivers State, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP a leading political party in the state since 1999 is now poised to continue its control of the governance of the state. On January 13th, 2025 Hon. Justice Stephen Jumbo of Port Harcourt High Court in case no. PHC/2301/CS/2024 delivered judgement that annulled the Aaron Chukwuemeka’s party executive held Congresses in the 319 wards, 23 Local Government Areas and State that took place on July 27, August 10 and August 31,2024 respectively. There was a Court judgement that barred the conduct of the congresses brought by loyalists of the Rivers state Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara. But in a twist Aaron Chukwuemeka the Acting Chairman of PDP and a loyalist of FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said that his executives were not party to the Judgment of Hon. Justice Stephen Jumbo.
However, Mr. Darlinghton Nwauju, Spokesman for APC in Rivers State led Chief Emeka Beke, in a relayed press statement said that the embattled Aaron Chukwuemeka executive of PDP that have been removed by the Court Judgement will not obey the judgement because they want to create a state of emergency which if not checkmated will derail democratic tenets in the state.
On Thursday 16th of January 2025, the PDP National Working Committee, NWC in a letter signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary stated that “The Rivers State Court Judgement, PDP accepts Verdict, affirms Ewor- led Rivers State Exco. The National Working Committee, NWC, the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP acknowledges receipt, considered and hereby accepts the judgement of the Rivers State High Court which in suit no. PHC/2301/CS/2024 nullified the ward,Local Government Areas and State congresses of our party in Rivers State, conducted on July 27, August 10 and August 31,2024 respectively.”
With the above reaction from the National Secretarait of PDP, it sealed the disenting voices of internal opposition led by Aaron Chukwuemeka and others as it re- asserts the leadership of the party back to Governor Siminalayi Joseph Fubara. Thus, the race to 2027 re- election of the incumbent Governor of Rivers State is on the front burner right now.
The Rivers State PDP executive now has an Acting Chairman Hon . Nname Robinson Ewor PhD who before now was Vice Chairman Rivers West in the State Working Committee of PDP. Dr. Feild Nkor the Acting Secretary of Rivers State Chapter. The Acting Chairman of Rivers State PDP Hon Dr. Nname Robinson Ewor told journalists that “ We have taken over our party from members of APC pretending to be PDP, that was hijacked from us but which the land mark judgement has handed back to us.
Today, the party is in the hands of PDP members, not APC members”.
Continuing, he said “what this judgement means to us is that the party has been restored to the original owners. The party is restored to the leader of the party, the Governor of the state( Sir Siminalayi Fubara).
The entire political landscape in Rivers State, currently has been set on high octane note.
Supporters of Sir Siminalayi Fubara are now purposefully happy that the road to the 2027 re-election bid of the leader of the party Fubara, is open with new set of elective political offices such as 13 Federal House of Representatives seats. 32 State House of Assembly seats waiting to be filled. There are also 3 senatorial Districts with 319 Councilors, 23 Local Government Councils also waiting for a new set of political positions to be filled by politicians loyal to governor Fubara.
Emeka Amaefula
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