The All Progressives Congress (APC) has affirmed that the former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, continues to be a significant force in politics and remains the leader of the party in Rivers State.
The party stated that Amaechi is politically active in Rivers and has been doing his best to support candidates for the upcoming Local Government election.
The party said this while distributing its flags to the standard bearers in 21 local government areas of the state in preparation for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5th.
Speaking on the sideline of the handing over of flags, the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Emeka Beke, noted that Amaechi in spite of his deafening silence to recent political happenings in the state and at the federal levels has remained committed to the politics of the state.
Beke noted that the former governor of the state was aware of the party fielding candidates for the LGA polls and is in support of the candidates.
He said: “Amaechi remains the leaders of APC in Rivers State. There is no way you will write the history of politics in the state, especially APC, that you will not write one full book on Amaechi.
“Amaechi is still strong in politics and remains a member of the APC. He is in support of APC fielding candidates for the election.”
Beke emphasized that the election will hold as planned, adding that there was already a court judgement in Port Harcourt by Justice I. Igwe, which paved the way for the election before that of Justice Peter Lifu of Federal High Court, Abuja.
“There is a judgement of court before that their Abuja judgement. I don’t know the reason they want to drag the state in the mud. They should stop deceiving their supporters. Election is going to take place on Saturday and anyone who creates problem will carry it on his head.
“There is no tension in the state. Who will create the tension? Rivers people are stronger than those characters.
“APC is a party well established in Rivers State. We had started consultation at the unit, wards and LGA levels. What we are doing today is just formality. You can see that only APC and one other party have flagged off their campaign in the state. APC is stronger in Rivers State.”
Earlier, while handing the flags over to the candidates, Beke noted that all the flag bearers have been screened by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, adding that they all stand qualified to contest the Saturday’s poll.
Beke urged the security agencies to be proactive and go after those who might stand out to stop the peaceful process, even as he expressed optimism that RSIEC stands by its promise of a free, fair and credible election.
He said: “These candidates have been screened by RSIEC. They are qualified to stand for the election. Some people think that the election will not hold, they are in their wide dream.
“Let me urge the security to warn those who want to cause problems. Rivers State has been a theater of war under former governor, Wike. But the governor we have now is God fearing. So any one who causes problem, the security people will chase them to their hole.”
