The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been split into a new faction.
The development comes amid the intensifying crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Leading the new faction is Dr. Robinson Ewor, who announced at a press briefing that the faction has taken over the party, with himself as the acting chairman and Dr. Feild Nkor as the acting secretary.
He announced that the faction would move to the party secretariat on Thursday morning to take over the party.
“We have taken over our party from members of the APC, which Nyesom Wike and his criminal gang handed over the party to, we have taken over. Today, the party is in the hands of PDP members, not APC members,” Dr Ewor declared.
“What this judgement means to us is that the party is being restored to the original owners. The party is restored to the leader of the party, the Governor of the state, Fubara,” he added.
“We are calling on the National party executives to as a matter of urgency implement to the letter the judgment of the Rivers State High Court. To as a matter of urgency hand over all the reins of the party to the leader of the party at the state level who is the Governor of the state,” Dr. Ewor said.
According to Dr. Ewor, the tenure of the substantive party executives expired in August 2024, and the national party leadership gave a three-month extension. However, former Governor Wike allegedly altered the list and imposed Aaron Chukwuemeka as the acting chairman, contrary to the party’s directive.
The faction claims that Wike’s actions were an anomaly and not in the spirit of the party’s transition. They also alleged that Wike and his loyalists conducted congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels, producing Chukwuemeka as chairman, despite a court order. Dr. Ewor stated that the High Court ruling has restored the party to its original owners, with Governor Fubara as the leader.
Dr. Ewor announced that Wike and his loyalists, including Chukwuemeka and Martin Amaewhule, were no longer members of the party, alleging they had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The faction has also announced the appointment of three vice chairmen, representing Rivers West, Rivers East, and Rivers South East. Dr. Ewor explained that, as the vice chairman of Rivers West, he is eminently qualified to pilot the affairs of the party in an acting capacity until proper congresses are conducted.