The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has declared that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost over 70% of his political followership in the state.
Eric Nwibani, Secretary of the State APC Caretaker Committee, made this statement at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Nwibani attributed Amaechi’s loss of support to his ineffective leadership qualities, which led to the party’s defeat in three consecutive elections between 2015 and 2023.
“Amaechi has lost over 70 percent of his followership. I’m done working with Amaechi. Let me tell you the type of leader Amaechi is,” Nwibani said.
He criticized Amaechi for his response to the departure of his supporters, saying, “He (Amaechi) carries bitterness over the years. I heard him say he was going to plan to win the next election. How? You were a super minister and you couldn’t win the last election, is it now that you are out of government that you can win an election?”
Nwibani also accused Amaechi of neglecting the families of party members who died during a presidential campaign rally in 2019. “During the presidential campaign rally of President Buhari in 2019 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, 16 Rivers people died due to stampede… That is the kind of a leader Amaechi is,” he said.
Furthermore, Nwibani defended the character of party members who defected to work with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying, “Amaechi cannot say those working with Wike are hungry. I don’t know where he worked before joining politics. We know he made money from the government and politics… I know that Chief Victor Giadom is not hungry. I know that Ojukaye Flag Amachree is not, Sampson Ngerigbari and many others are not hungry people.”
Nwibani expressed support for Wike, acknowledging his contributions to the state. “Yes, Wike is a PDP man. But he is Rivers’ son and is doing very well as an FCT minister working in the government of President Tinubu. We need to give him all the support he deserves.”
He concluded by emphasizing the need for effective leadership, stating, “You cannot run a party aground and lose three consecutive elections due to ineffective leadership qualities and expect people to still follow you.”
Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Chibuike Ikenga, said the party is reviewing a court judgment that declared 27 Pro-Wike lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule as still members of the PDP. Ikenga stated, “Well, the decision of the Court is what it is. Ours is to obey or appeal. But as we speak, our leadership is looking at it, and based on the advice from the legal department of our party, we will take a position on it.”
When asked about the timeline for the party’s decision, Ikenga replied, “I think the process is on now. We are in stakeholder engagement, so we will know the next line of action afterward.”
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