Politics

Rivers APC suspends chairman, legal adviser, chides Amaechi

The Rivers State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has wielded the big stick on its chairman, Chief Emeka Beke, and Legal Adviser, Iheanyichukwu Azubuike.

Beke and Azubuike have been suspended until further notice over alleged anti-party activities and financial misconduct.

The party also distanced itself from former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his statement that President-elect Bola Tinubu influenced the re-appointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Chike Eyinda, who led other members of SEC to a media briefing in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, April 5, stated that Amaechi and Beke’s activities had affected the fortunes of the party in Rivers State.

He said: “We, the members of the State Executive Committee, therefore resolve as follows: That Chief Emeka Beke, the chairman of the APC in Rivers State, is hereby suspended indefinitely for anti-party activities, gross misconduct and financial mismanagement pending the outcome of an independent committee of inquiry as may be set up by the party.

“That until the outcome of the committee of inquiry, Mr. Omiete Eferebo, the deputy chairman assumes the office of the acting chairman with immediate effect.

“That Mr. Iheanyichukwu Azubuike, the Legal Adviser of the party also stands suspended for anti-party activities and financial mismanagement pending the outcome of the committee of inquiry.”

He noted that Amaechi, Beke, and Azubuike had impeded the growth of the party.

According to him, “These leaders have been responsible for the mass exodus of members of the party as well as the failures experienced by the party in the just-concluded general election in the state.

“To demonstrate this, Rt. Hon. Amaechi, who contested and lost the Presidential primaries to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in active connivance with the state chairman and the legal adviser, a week to the presidential election, called the leadership of the party to a meeting and directed all the APC members in the state to work for the PDP in the general election.

“And this accounted for the party’s loss on the 18th March governorship and state assembly elections.

“Instead of being remorseful for what he did to the party, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi decided to hinge the blame on our dear President-elect, Bola Tinubu, claiming that he singlehandedly appointed the INEC, Chairman Yakubu Mahmood.

“As party faithful, we consider this statement by the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as an affront to our President-elect and the highest level of anti-party activity.”

The Star