Breaking: Rivers PDP sacks Atiku’s ally, Sen. Sekibo, others

The executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ward 2 of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers have suspended Senator George Thompson Sekibo, the senator representing the Rivers East Senatorial District for alleged anti-party activities.

Sekibo, an ally of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar was suspended alongside other party chieftains believed to be members of his camp in the party.

The suspension of Sekibo and other PDP chieftains was announced in a public announcement jointly signed by one Alatoru Sydney, Chairman of PDP, Ward 2, Ogu-Bolo local government area and Joshua Tamuno, Secretary and other Executives of Ward 4 and 10 of the council area.

According to the statement, the decision to suspend the PDP chieftains was reached in an executive meeting where a review of the recent presidential and national assembly elections and the governorship and State House of Assembly Elections were carried out.

“The anti-party activities of the suspended party stalwarts of Ward 2 of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area was observed with dismay as it was noticed that they worked against the PDP.

“The Ward 2 Executive of the PDP also found out that the aforementioned suspended members of the PDP failed to pay their annual subscription fees as provided by section 8 subsection 9 of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended, hence the vote of no confidence and suspension”.

“Similarly, the PDP Executive of Ward 10 Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area has also passed a vote of no confidence and also suspended Navy Capt. Victor Erasmus, Hon Gilbert Enos and Eugene Enos, from the PDP, the reason is the same as the aforementioned stalwarts from Ward 2, which is anti-party activities and non-payment of the annual subscription fee.

“Also, the Executive of Ward 4 of PDP Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area has passed a vote of no confidence and suspended Dr Sunny Asetubobe from the PDP for anti-party activities and failure to pay the annual subscription fee.” the party executives stated in the statement.

The press statement emphasized that all aforementioned PDP stalwarts stand suspended forthwith.

According to reports, the crisis in Rivers PDP has created a dichotomy between supporters of Atiku and those of Governor Nyesom Wike and this may have necessitated the suspension of Senator Sekibo and others.

But in a swift reaction, Senator Sekibo dismissed the suspension as fallacious. He added that the authors and sponsors of the action were economical with the truth as they were merely acting a script intended to malign him.

Reacting through a statement signed by Alabo Barnabas Luckyn, his legislative aide, Sekibo said he was never involved in any form of anti-party behaviour at any time since he joined the party in 1998 till date.

He said his loyalty to the party has been clear and transparent at all times including during the elections on February 25th and March 18th, 2023.

He said it is also not true that he does not pay his party membership subscription or dues as the facts clearly indicate.