APC Rivers state chapter suspends chairman over alleged anti-party activities, financial misappropriation, as party member defects to PDP

The Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended its chairman, Emeka Beke, due to allegations of financial misappropriation and anti-party activities. The State Executive Council of the APC made the announcement during a press conference. The SEC also accused the former Minister of Transportation and state leader of the party, Rotimi Amaechi, of mobilizing members of the party to vote for the opposition party’s presidential candidate in the recently held elections.

Alex Wele, the APC candidate for Obio-Akpor Constituency 2 in the House of Assembly election in Rivers State, has defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Wele claimed that the APC did not prepare for the elections and had no strategy for winning. He congratulated the PDP candidate, Emilia Lucky Amadi, for her victory and stated that he would rather promote peace in his Local Government Area (LGA) than pursue the case at the election tribunal. Wele also alleged that the governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, did not connect with other APC candidates, and candidates were left to fend for themselves.
He also said APC does not have the fund to go to tribunal, alleging that the governorship candidate, Tonye Cole hardly connect himself with other APC candidates, regretting that the election was a one-way traffic as candidates were all left on their own.
Wele said the candidates have been urged to contribute money for the journey to the tribunal which he said, was not necessary to him because he needed peace of mind.

Wele said:”I have chosen not to be on dilemma side any longer, APC had no plans to win the 2023 elections. In all the meetings we attended prior to the election, there was no strategy on how to win elections. We all know that there was a looming disaster in Rivers APC.

“So, that’s why I have chosen to leave the party peacefully. The 2023 is the worst election we have ever witnessed, there was no plan and preparation to win by APC.
“Naturally, those who won will be celebrating their victory while those who lost will be pursuing their case at the election petition tribunal as the law requires of them to do in a civil democratic environment.
“For me as the candidate of the APC for Rivers State House of Assembly Obio/Akpor Constituency 2, I have decided not to challenge the outcome of the March 18, 2023 elections at the tribunal for the overall interest, stability and unity of our Constituency in particular and our dear Local Government Area, Obio/Akpor at large.
“Accordingly, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, I warmly congratulate our dear wife and mother, Lady Emilia Lucky Amadi on her victory at the polls and subsequent election into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent me and the good people of Obio/ Akpor Constituency 2.”

He, however, congratulated Siminalaye Fubara for his victory at the guber election, stressing that “He meets my requirement for equity and social justice to the Riverine Communities on one part and to the South- East Senatorial District on the other Part, having in mind that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, before now, has never produced a Governor in the history of Rivers State”.
Wele added that with his defection to PDP he has reached the end of an era in his political life and the beginning of another.