The lawmakers who are supporting Wike denied to have defect to the APC after the ruling.
Beke reacted by calling their denial “shameful.”
“I want it to be documented that those 27 House of Assembly members are still members of the APC,” he said. The law regarding defection is straightforward. We all know the truth and witnessed it when they joined our party, so they are unable to hide from it.
Chief Emeka Beke, criticized the 27 lawmakers from the state House of Assembly who have denied their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Beke, an ally of former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, asserted that these lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, cannot deny their membership in the APC after openly defecting to the party
Beke made these remarks at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Saturday, in response to Amaewhule’s recent claims that he and his colleagues were still members of the PDP.
The pro-Wike lawmakers had announced their defection to the APC amid a political crisis involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor Nyesom Wike, and current Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
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He said that appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against the pro-Wike lawmakers after the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024. He mentioned that the party had fully prepared to participate in these elections.
We called the politicians that is supporting Wike to our most recent meeting, but they failed to turn up. We are currently focusing on the local government elections, and after they are completed, we shall address them as needed,” he said.
Furthermore, he reaffirmed that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had examined and certified each APC candidate for the elections. “On October 5, the APC will take part in the next local government elections. He said, “Our candidates have been examined and confirmed.
Beke said that the court decision made by Justice Aprioku, recognizing him as the state’s elected party chairman, remains in place.”The APC will not be stopped from actively engaging in the local government elections.
In our last meeting, we sent out invitations for them (the pro-Wike lawmakers) to attend, but they did not. Right now, we are focused on local government elections, and after that, we will take necessary actions concerning them,” he stated.
He also confirmed that all APC candidates for the elections had been screened and cleared by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). “The APC will take part in the forthcoming local government elections on October 5. Our candidates have been screened and cleared,” he declared.
Beke asserted that the court ruling by Justice Aprioku, which recognized him as the elected chairman of the party in the state, had not been overturned.
“Nothing will stop the APC from participating fully in the local government elections. If anyone claims otherwise, I have instructed our lawyers to secure a warrant of arrest because, as a party, we believe in the rule of law,” he said.
He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for providing a level playing field for all political parties in the upcoming elections.
