For the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers state and immediate past Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi this is not the best of times. The signs that the party in the oil-bearing state will face uncertain future first unfolded after Amaechi failed to clinch the APC presidential ticket last month.
The former minister has since accepted his fate urging his supporters to work for the party and victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential flagbearer in the 2023 election.
But indications have now emerged that things may be turning upside down for the party in the state following the resignation of two allies of the former minister, Tonye Princewill and Ibim Sementari, a former managing director of the NDDC, from the party.
Watchers of the party insist that it will be hard to win any election in the state if the situation continue. The party already has enough problem in its plate due to its polarisation into two camps led by Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe in their quest to control the soul of the party.
Princewill, aformer APC governorship aspirant has informed the party of his resignation citing the controversial APC muslim-Muslim joint presidential ticket, a fallout from Tinubu’s selection of Kassim Shettima as his running mate.
The former Lagos state governor unveiled Shettima, a former Borno state governor when he visited President Muhamamdu Buhari in his Daura, Katsina home last Saturday. His pick has elicited mixed reactions from his party and other well-meaning Nigerians.
Stating the reason for his resignation, Princewill said the choice of Shettima is against equity and justice. He said he could not in good conscience support the party in its quest to promote a muslim-muslim joint ticket having fought for years to ensure equity and justice in the state.
Princewill,who is an ally of immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said his resignation was in protest against the choice of Kashim Shettima as running mate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Chairman of Ward 3 (Royal Ward), Buguma City, in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Princewill said he cannot continue to “argue for equity in my state and defend inequity in my country.”
On her part, Sementari, a former Commissioner of Information during the tenure of Amaechi as governor said she was leaving the party, but did not mention the reason.
“I write to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from today. I appreciate the friendship, camaraderie and opportunities that this platform has provided me to serve my state, region and country even as I wish the party well,” the former NDDC boss said in a letter dated July 9 and addressed to the Chairman, Ward 5, Okirika.
Sementari, a journalist-turned politician was a close ally of Amaechi until recently when the duo parted ways.
The final straw that broke the camel’s back for the former political allies was the decision by the former NDDC boss to dump Ameachi during the APC shadow presidential election last month. Sementari was said to have worked for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who came third in the election.
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