A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State loyal to former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has sharply criticized the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, accusing his leadership style of exacerbating the ongoing crisis within the party in the state.
The faction, led by reinstated Chairman Emeka Beke, made the allegations during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday.
They accused Ganduje of failing to resolve internal conflicts, which they claim stem from party leadership’s connivance and imposition, leading to multiple litigations and controversies.
Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, expressed deep dissatisfaction with Ganduje’s approach, calling it dictatorial and detrimental to the party’s unity in the state.
He pointed to the establishment of a caretaker committee in Rivers State by Ganduje despite a court order restraining such action.
“Abdullahi Ganduje, who promised internal democracy for the party on the 3rd of August 2023 after his ratification by the National Executive Council (NEC), has managed the Rivers State chapter exactly like a workman quarrelling with his tools,” Nwauju said.
He further accused Ganduje of undermining the principles of progressivism upon which the APC was founded, citing the loss of lives of party supporters in past elections and the failure to bring justice to those responsible for electoral violence.
Nwauju also took aim at the faction led by Chief Tony Okocha, describing them as “political hustlers” and accusing them of disregarding court orders.
He specifically criticized Okocha’s threat to expel party members, dismissing it as “hypocritical and defeatist.”
Nwauju questioned the legitimacy of Okocha’s claims, citing court rulings that invalidated the dissolution of party executives in Rivers and Benue States by Ganduje.
He referenced a judgment by Justice Sika Aprioku on August 12, 2024, which affirmed Emeka Beke’s camp as the legitimate elected executives of Rivers State’s APC.
A similar judgment was issued in Benue State in November 2024.
The Rivers APC spokesperson expressed growing concern over the party’s future under Ganduje’s leadership, stressing the need for adherence to democratic principles and respect for court rulings.
He urged the party leadership to respect judicial decisions and avoid actions that could further damage the party’s reputation and internal cohesion.
“The leadership of Ganduje is undemocratic, despotic, and unconstitutional,” Nwauju concluded, emphasizing the need to respect the sacrifices of APC supporters who lost their lives during past elections.
He called for unity and respect for the rule of law within the party.
As the internal conflict within the Rivers APC continues to escalate, all eyes are on Ganduje’s response to the accusations and whether the party can resolve its internal disputes in time for the 2025 elections.