Rivers: Governor Wike's Key PDP Allies Decamp To APC

Some of Governor Nyesom Wike’s trusted political allies have started pitching tent with the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

Governor Wike of River State

Nwankwo, who led 87 leaders of the PDP in Omuma local government area of Rivers state to the APC on Sunday was a one-time commissioner for energy and natural resources during Dr Peter Odili’s administration.

The former PDP man and other members of the party were received by Asita O Asita, the deputy governorship candidate of the APC and praised them for their courage to make the shift as the PDP was no longer capable of leading Nigeria to the expected destination.

Similarly, Chief Matthew Aleru, a stalwart of the PDP in Ikwerre local government area and former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Basin Authority has decamped for APC.

In a similar fashion, Igochukwu Dim who ran for the Emohua/Ikwerre federal constituency seat under the PDP has moved with his teeming supporters to the APC.

Some weeks back, Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, a chieftain of the PDP, a two-time governorship aspirant who contested in the governorship primaries with Wike and others walked into the state secretariat of the APC to register and obtain a membership card.

The continued movement of some leaders of the PDP into the APC in Rivers state despite the avalanche of appointments recently released by Governor Wike, may be a fulfillment of an initial statement by the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, who claimed that 50% of the people Wike is appointing into various offices were already talking with his party on how to dump the PDP.

As at the last count, the governor had appointed about 30 Special Advisers and 24 commissioners.

Some of the Special Advisers yet to be assigned portfolios are already grumbling over “floating appointments”.

Only yesterday, reports emerged that the 344 workers of the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, who were sacked by Governor Wike on assumption of office, have dragged the Rivers state government to court for illegal termination of appointment.

Source: Naij.com