Buhari’s minister Amaechi suspended as Rivers APC crisis deepens

 The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was on Monday, December 21, suspended from APC

 Amaechi’s suspension was executed by a factional chairman of the party in the state, Igo Aguma

 Aguma said that the decision was taken at an extraordinary executive meeting of the party in Port Harcourt

Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation and former governor of Rivers state, has been suspended by the Igo Aguma-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The Nation reports that the suspension has deepened the crisis in the state chapter of the party, adding that both camps strived to gain control of the APC ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Leakblast.com gathered that the Amaechi’s group of the party had at the weekend declared the suspensions of a former senator, Magnus Abe, Igo Aguma, Livingstone Wechie, Wogu Boms and all caretaker committee leaders inaugurated by Aguma.

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Making the verdict on Monday, December 21, in a statement signed by his media adviser, Livingstone Wechie, said the APC had written to the Rivers State Electoral Commission (RISIEC) to declare its readiness to partake in the forthcoming local government election in the state.

He noted that the decision to suspend Amaechi from the party was taken at an extraordinary executive meeting presided over by Aguma in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Wechie added that the meeting was well-attended by the statutory executive members, who participated physically and virtually to take major decisions affecting the party.

The statement said the state executive caretaker committee ratified the recommendation of the state disciplinary committee of the party which looked into the decision of the ward and local government chapters to suspend Amaechi, who hails from ward 8, Ikwerre local government area for anti-party activities.

He said:

“The state executive committee also accepted and ratified the decision of the state disciplinary committee to uphold the indefinite suspension of Isaac Ogbobula by the ward 10 and LGA executive of Ahoada-East local government Area of Rivers state. Isaac Ogbobula is hereby suspended indefinitely from APC Rivers.

“The executive committee referred both reports from Emohua and Gokana local government areas on Chief Victor Giadom and Senator Andrew Uchendu to the state disciplinary committee for further action in line with Article 21 of APC constitution.”

He said the state executive committee mandated Aguma to write a letter to RISIEC communicating the readiness of the APC to fully participate in the April 17, 2021 local government election in the state.