Rivers APC Crisis: Eze, Abe Clash Over How to Rebuild the Party

Following the All Progressives Congress’ failure to field candidates in the 2019 general elections in Rivers State because of internal disputes, party leaders have begun debating how best to rebuild the APC ahead of future elections.

The discussions have also included whether party leaders should respond positively to Governor Nyesom Wike’s call for political reconciliation in the interest of the state.

While receiving his certificate of return, Wike appealed to the APC and then Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi to work with his administration for the development of Rivers State.

The governor argued that political leaders could not remain permanently divided while expecting government to effectively meet the needs of the people.

He urged political actors to seek common ground and appealed to residents to avoid acrimony, violence and other actions capable of undermining peace in the state.

Amaechi, regarded as the leader of the APC in Rivers, made a similar appeal in an Easter message, calling on those who lost during the elections not to abandon their commitment to the state.

He urged Rivers people to work together irrespective of political affiliation and stressed the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence.

Some APC leaders subsequently expressed willingness to put aside their differences and cooperate in efforts to develop the state.

However, the reconciliation calls did not immediately end the internal disagreements within the Rivers APC.

Party chieftain Chukwuemeka Eze accused Senator Magnus Abe of contributing significantly to the crisis that prevented the APC from participating in the elections.

Eze alleged that Abe worked with political interests within and outside Rivers State to frustrate Amaechi’s faction of the party and prevent APC candidates from appearing on the ballot.

He also accused Abe of repeatedly attacking Amaechi politically and claimed that the senator had aligned himself with Governor Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Eze further alleged that he had received threats because of his public defence of Amaechi and his criticism of Abe’s political activities.

According to him, he had repeatedly exposed what he described as attempts by Abe and his supporters to weaken Amaechi’s influence within the party.

Eze also claimed that Abe’s political associates worked against the APC during the 2019 elections and supported PDP candidates.

He alleged that some of the activities were aimed at damaging Amaechi’s political standing and preventing him from being reappointed into President Muhammadu Buhari’s second-term government.

Abe rejected the accusations and maintained that the central problem facing the Rivers APC was the failure to respect internal democracy.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, Abe said he remained committed to the APC but would continue to campaign for transparency, due process and fair treatment of party members.

He argued that many of the politicians who joined the APC had left the PDP because of what they considered impunity and high-handedness and therefore should not allow similar practices to develop within their new party.

According to Abe, respect for internal democracy, constitutional procedures and the rights of party members would help resolve the recurring disputes within the Rivers APC.

He also dismissed Eze’s allegation that he was connected to threats against the APC chieftain.

Abe said anyone who genuinely believed he had been threatened should report the matter to the police rather than attempt to link him to the allegation without evidence.

He described Eze’s claims as an attempt to damage his reputation and said he would not be drawn into a prolonged public argument over the matter.

The disagreement between the two APC figures reflected the wider divisions that had weakened the party in Rivers State and ultimately contributed to its exclusion from the 2019 elections.

While some party leaders advocated reconciliation and cooperation with Wike’s administration, others continued to trade accusations over responsibility for the crisis.

The challenge before the Rivers APC was therefore not only rebuilding its electoral structure but also resolving the internal disputes that had prevented it from presenting candidates in one of Nigeria’s most politically competitive states.