Six days after Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and some G7 governors defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Amaechi has suffered the same fate, as the chief whip and one of the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers, Igbani Ikunyi, has decamped to the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike’s camp.
This was even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, had vowed that it would not allow the flag of Governor Amaechi’s party, the APC anywhere in the state.
Ikunyi, who is the lawmaker representing Andoni Constituency in the Assembly, yesterday announced his move to Wike’s camp during the Grassroots Development Initiatives (GDI) in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area and ward executives inauguration and thanksgiving held in Ogu.
In his speech at the event, the chief whip said he represented the political conscience of his people and had taken a firm decision.
“I represent the conscience of politics. When a lion moves, it moves with its tail.”
Also, the PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, said more Assembly members had consulted him, expressing their apology and demanding to be readmitted.
He made this known shortly after Ikunyi announced his exit from Governor Amaechi’s camp.
“Eight of them have come asking that we should admit them back that they have been suffering,” he said.
He accused Governor Amaechi of recruiting thugs to destroy PDP signposts, urging GDI supporters to resist any attempt by government agents to destroy PDP property, adding that the party leadership would support them.
Meanwhile, the PDP had declared it would ensure that APC short-lived in the state.
In their separate speeches at the event, the state party Chairman, Felix Obuah, Wike, National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, Senator George Sekibo, a former transport minister, Abiye Sekibo, factional Assembly Speaker, Evans Bipi, and many others, said the governor would not use Rivers money to fund APC.
However, Wike had stated that the embattled Chariman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Timothy Nsirim, remained the authentic council boss, despite the dissolution of the council announced by the governor.
He urged their supporters to be firm, saying all hands should be on deck to fight the opposition.
