By John Amowoh
The crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress, APC in Rivers State, seems far from over; this because the internal peace and democratic norms that are needed to cement a political party and members especially giving the recent court judgment that brought Hon. Ego Aguma as its state Chairman seems not to interest other factions of the party at the state level.
Recall that a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt declared Igo Aguma chairman of the party, and with the declaration supporters of Hon. Magnus Abe were particularly celebrating the victory while those of Amaechi remained totally unconcerned about the court ruling.
The Town Crier has learnt that the crisis started when the party split into the Chibuike Amaechi versus Magnus Abe factions, following the latter’s interest in the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections, which Amaechi opposed.
Aguma, who was Amaechi’s close ally, had felt some injustices in the party and approached the court in December 2019 seeking inclusiveness, internal democracy, unity, progress and peace in the party.
However, with the court’s declaration of Aguma as acting chairman, the party has further split into three factions because while Amaechi and Abe were yet to reconcile, other members supported Aguma’s leadership by leaving Amaechi’s camp, although Aguma said he emerged to unite the party.
In the suit marked: PHC/4355/2019, Aguma sued the Chairman, APC Caretaker Committee, Isaac Ogbobula, the party and its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole for failing to adhere to the party’s rules.
After hearing submissions of the claimant’s counsel, Echezona Etiaba (SAN), Justice George Omereji, declared that there were issues of injustice and violation of civil rights of the applicant, adding that Aguma had the locus standi to approach the court.
He also ruled that the suit was not an abuse of court process, because Aguma only requested that the APC rules should be followed, noting that the claimant, being a former House of Representatives member, met the requirements of a statutory member of the state APC.
The court also ordered the party to allow its members loyal to Abe, who purchased forms in 2018 to participate in the congresses to be rescheduled by the party.
Justice Omereji gave the rulings in two separate suits brought before him by Dele Moses, Aguma and nine others on different matters in the crises rocking the party in Rivers.
However, what is agitating the minds of faithful of the party at the state level is that the two bigwigs-Abe and Ameachi if they are still willing to unite ahead of 2023.