By: Admin
As more reactions continue to trail the endorsement of the gubernatorial candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in Rivers State, Engr Biokpomabo Awara by the Chibuike Amaechi faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state for the Saturday 9th March, governorship and state house of assembly elections, the AAC has denied having any relationship with the AAPC as regards such arrangement.
This is coming as Amaechi on Wednesday directed members of the party in the state to vote for the AAC governorship candidate.
The APC in Rivers state was barred by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt from fielding candidates for the 2019 elections, hence, Amaechi’s decision to back the AAC governorship candidate, Awara Biokpomabo.
However, AAC leadership said the party has not entered into any form of agreement with the APC.
AAC deputy national chairman (administration), Dr. Malcolm Fabiyi, said: “We were made aware of the APC’s recent endorsement of the AAC’s Rivers State gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming elections on the 9th of March. Rotimi Amaechi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has pitched his tent with Awara Biokpomabo, our governorship candidate in the African Action Congress (AAC).
“While we have no influence over who other parties might choose to endorse, we wish to make it unequivocally clear that we have we not entered any alliances or coalitions with the APC or any other party in Rivers State, neither have we made any decisions to dovetail parties or seek strategic alliances as we approach the state elections in a few days.
“The AAC, led by Omoyele Sowore, promised Nigerians a different style of governance at the national level; we also believe we can bring this new promise of transparency and progress to bear at the state level. “We urge all PVC-bearing Nigerians to come out en masse on the 9th of March and vote for transformation and a true paradigm shift, the kind that only the African Action Congress can bring.”
Similarly, the chairman of the Senator Magnus Abe led faction of the APC in the state. Chief Peter Odike said it is not part of the said arrangement by the transportation minister as it was still pursuing its case before the Supreme Court.
He said the decision by Ameachi is his personall decision and does not represent that of the APC in the state as the party at no time took such a decision.
Odike in a statement on Wednesday, said members of the party should continue to keep faith with the party while its fights to restore its candidates on the ballot for Saturday’s election.
Also, the Orashi region caucus of the party in the state has joined in dissociating themselves from the said endorsement by Amaechi.
According to a statement by Hon. Stephen Ezekwem, one of the leaders of the party in the region urged supporters of the party to ignore the statement by Amaechi.
He said: “There was no meeting whatsoever where Hon. Chibuike Amaechi was mandated to speak and take decision unbehalf of the APC in Rivers State”
“That Chibuike Amaechi is just a single member of the party in Rivers State. That the APC in Orashi region are in consonance with the position of the APC under Chief Peter Odike”.
He said Amaechi’s directive is only binding on members of his faction of the party.
