Rivers State PDP Crisis Escalates as Leadership Dispute Deepens

The crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has taken a dramatic turn, with Dr. Nname Ewo declaring himself the rightful leader. According to Ewo, he should assume control of the party following the resignation of Desmond Nkawo, who led the party’s Executive Committee until 2020.

Dr. Ewo explained that Nkawo’s resignation before completing his tenure, along with the court’s removal of Aaron Jukwemeka as the acting chairman, has led to a leadership vacuum. The court ruling, Ewo claims, invalidated all party activities, including congresses conducted under Jukwemeka’s leadership.

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 “The Desmond Akawa-led PDP Executive Committee of the party was elected in 2020. Desmond Akawa was the chairman, Eron Chukwemeka the deputy chairman, and I served as the vice chairman Rivers West Senatorial District. And by PDP’s succession plan, in the absence of the chairman, the deputy takes over.And in the absence of the deputy, the vice chairman Rivers West takes over. (By succession, I am the rightful person to take over, now that the court has removed Eron Chukwemeka. At the end of our tenure, when we were serving, before we served at our tenure, Desmond Akawa has resigned his position, and Eron Chukwemeka was in acting capacity. When we served at our tenure, sometime in June-July 2024, the party at the national level that all those that are served at their tenure will be allowed to serve as CAATI CAAT members for a period of three months.”

Ewo also asserted that he is the legitimate leader of the party in the state until the national body schedules a proper congress to resolve the leadership crisis. The battle for control is now in full swing as different factions of the party continue to assert their positions.

The unfolding leadership dispute within Rivers PDP is expected to have significant implications on the party’s operations and future elections.

“Today the court has come to our rescue. The court said because you cannot put something on nothing, all the exercises you conducted, the congresses you conducted, is a knowledge. That is the position of the law today.Because PDP have a succession plan, that there is no vacancy, in the absence of the chairman, in the absence of the deputy, the vice-chairman reverse words in the taste, takes over. That is what gave rise to my position today. I’m the rightful person to take over the reins of the party.As far as I’m concerned, the national publicity secretary issued a press statement yesterday, supporting and congratulating my leadership. The national party PDP at the national level is behind our leadership. Because there is no way, there is no way Eran Chukwuemeka and Kuh can continue because the court has removed them and so they remain remote.”