The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is at the center of a tense political standoff, as personnel of the Nigerian Police have sealed off the party’s secretariat on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
A tactical unit from the Rivers State Police Command blocked the main entrance to the secretariat, using a patrol van to bar access and redirecting motorists to a single lane along the busy Aba Road.
The blockade has caused significant traffic disruptions and restricted movement into the party’s premises.
The action by the police follows a leadership shake-up within the state chapter of the PDP.
The crisis began after a Rivers State High Court ruled to remove Aaron Chukwuemeka and his executive committee, paving the way for the appointment of Nname Robinson Ewor as Acting Chairman.
Ewor, addressing party members, emphasized the legitimacy of his position, stating that Chukwuemeka no longer holds authority within the party, though he remains Chairman of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI).
He further reinforced Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s role as the leader of the PDP in the state, dismissing claims that former Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, still holds influence over the party’s leadership in Rivers.
“This is a new chapter for the PDP in Rivers State,” Ewor said. “We urge members to disregard any false narratives and rally around Governor Fubara as the leader of the party.”
The unfolding drama has heightened political tension in the state, with party stakeholders and members awaiting further actions from both the PDP and law enforcement.
Observers say the police presence at the secretariat underscores the intensity of the leadership crisis within the PDP in Rivers State, as the party grapples with internal disputes and power realignment.