Fubara, Wike camps clash as police occupy Rivers PDP secretariat

The crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Thursday when police took control of the party’s secretariat on Aba Road in Port Harcourt. The police action followed attempts by two rival factions—the Aaron Chukwuemeka-led executive, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Robinson Ewor-led executive, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara—to take over the secretariat.
On January 13, 2024, the state High Court, under Justice Stephen Jumbo, issued an interlocutory injunction restraining Chukwuemeka and his faction from presenting themselves as the legitimate executive of the PDP in the state. This followed a legal challenge by Edwin Woko and three other PDP members, who argued that the congresses that elected Chukwuemeka’s executive were illegal, as they violated a prior court order from Justice Charles Wali on July 20, 2024, which had halted the congresses. Despite this, the Wike faction went ahead with the congresses on July 27, August 10, and August 31, without Fubara’s faction.
The political turmoil in Rivers State escalated after a failed attempt by Wike’s allies in the legislature to impeach Governor Fubara in October 2023. Following the court ruling, the Ewor-led caretaker executive committee, loyal to Fubara, was poised to take control of the party secretariat on Thursday.
Our correspondent, who visited the secretariat, reported heavy police presence with anti-riot units stationed at the office and several police vehicles on-site. Despite the police presence, Chukwuemeka was able to enter the secretariat, asserting that he remained the legitimate PDP chairman in the state. Security forces had blocked both ends of the road leading to the secretariat, causing temporary traffic congestion.
In a press briefing, Ewor, who had announced his faction’s plans to take over the secretariat, stated that he would not force his way into the building and was committed to maintaining peace in the state. He mentioned that the security agencies had advised the party to postpone its plans to take control, as they were already deployed to prevent potential violence.
Ewor called on the national leadership of the PDP to recognize Governor Fubara as the party’s leader in Rivers State and to work with the newly established leadership at the state, local government, and ward levels. He also vowed to suspend members found guilty of anti-party activities during the 2023 elections, a veiled reference to Wike, who had supported President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress over the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Ewor appealed to party supporters to remain calm, assuring them that efforts were underway to peacefully assume control of the secretariat.
“We shall, also in the next few days, set up a disciplinary committee to deal with issues of anti-party activities, especially during the 2023 general election and beyond and every other activity by party members which are capable of bringing the party to disrepute.
“Those who are found wanting shall be disciplined appropriately, including but not limited to suspension, sacking and other sanctions known to the party constitution.
“The party is supreme. We shall uphold the supremacy of the party. We shall implement the manifestoes of the party and constitution,” he said.
In a separate news briefing at the party secretariat, Chukwuemeka insisted that his executive was duly elected.
“This morning, I deemed it fit that we will address a press conference so that everyone will be aware of what we are doing in PDP Rivers State.
“I want to say that here we are today is the state secretariat of the PDP in Rivers, ably led by myself, Chukwuemeka Aaron, as the state chairman of this party.
“I was duly elected, all the excos that were elected with me are here seated. We started as a caretaker committee of our party and we were saddled with the responsibility of conducting a fresh election to usher in a duly elected state, local government and ward executives.”
Chukwuemeka debunked claims that he defected to the APC, saying he remained a member of the PDP.
He added, “I have worked for this party since 1999, and I have served in various capacities, including local government party secretary, LG party chairman, deputy state chairman, and now state chairman.
“I have never defected from the PDP, and I remain committed to the party’s ideals and values.”
On the recent court ruling that nullified his emergence as state chairman, he described the judgment as “not executory,” saying he would appeal it.
Chukwuemeka called on the governor to allow peace to reign in the state.
“This is my office, we have taken possession and we cannot leave here.
“Whatever court judgment they have gotten, we are going to appeal it. We will follow due processes and ensure that there is peace and order in the state.
“We need peace in Rivers State and we cannot continue to file one litigation after another. We are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, and we will not be intimidated by those who seek to undermine our party,” he said.