The Magnus Abe’s faction of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has boycotted of the party’s ward congresses beginning on Saturday.
The faction accused the Minister of Transportation and leader of the party in the state, Rotimi Amaechi, of masterminding the exclusion of their supporters from participating in the exercise.
Abe made the accusation in Port Harcourt while addressing his supporters across the 23 local government areas of the state.
According to him: “There is really no crisis in this party. The crisis in the party is that the minister (Amaechi) said anybody who is with Senator Abe is no longer a member of the APC and cannot be entitled to any opportunity or privilege within the APC.
“I want to say I have had a series of meetings with the national leadership and it is determined that there will be justice for party members in Rivers State. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Since you were not given forms and allowed to take part in the congresses, leave it.
“We will follow the party process and we will formally complain to the national leadership that this is what has happened. Since they didn’t give you forms, don’t go and waste your time. Remain calm. We will get to where we are going. We will follow the directives of the national leadership of our party.”
He noted that he had always been an advocate of inclusiveness in the affairs of the party at the state level and would remain one.
However, the state spokesman of the party, Ogbonna Nwuke, dismissed the allegations.
Nwuke said, “The whole thing is a complete hoax and lies coming from a man who is well-placed like Senator Magnus Abe.
“The APC has promised to provide a level playing field for all. That means members of Abe’s faction who equally bought forms to participate in the congresses are free to do so.
“But we are aware that because the senator knows that this time, he is merely a paper tiger who has no support at the grassroots, it becomes necessary for him to tell all kinds of lies in an attempt to create a wrong impression of a peaceful process.
“So, for us, we think that the public, particularly our supporters and all well-meaning people who are part of the APC, should ignore the call by Senator Magnus Abe.”
