Minortiy Leadership: Crisis worsens amongst top political parties in Rivers

The seeming crisis provoked among lawmakers of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Rivers State House of Assembly, following the emergence of Hon. Frederick Benibo Anabrabra, as minority leader, appears to be deepening.

Both APC and lawmakers of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, had on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, voted on the floor of the House, to elect Anabraba, APC, representing Akuku-Toru state constituency, as the minority leader of the House against the wishes of the APC legislators, who preferred Hon. Josiah John Olu, APC, Eleme state constituency.

Hon. Victoria Wobo Nyeche, APC, Port Harcourt state constituency 1, who nominated Hon. Olu, on behalf of her colleagues in the APC,
fumed that the PDP lawmakers had no business nominating a minority leader for the APC. Anabrabra was nominated by Sam Oge, PDP, Emohua state constituency.

Nyeche lamented: “Our colleagues in the PDP are not the ones to nominate our minority leader. Our caucus in the House should decide who we want as our minority leader. The interest of the PDP in whom emerges as the minority leader of the House, APC being the minority party in this sense is suspicious.”

Olu, who was defeated 8 votes to 15, has denounced the manner Anabraba emerged. “The APC party caucus has chosen me
for that position. So, the nomination of Anabrabra by the PDP is not in tune with the wish of our party. We are meeting to consult with our party leaders.”

Anabrabra, who defeated Olu has appealed to his colleagues in the APC to close ranks and accept him as the bona fide minority leader of the Rivers State House if Assembly. “I was duly elected. It was a fair contest because I had an opponent. I got 15 votes while he got 8 votes. In the House, the decision is final. So, my colleagues in the APC should accept me and lets work together.”

A pressure group, the Rivers Ijaw Project, and some supporters of Anabrabra, told journalists at a news conference, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, that they were horrified by the decision of other APC lawmakers not recognise Anabrabra. They described the refusal of APC lawmakers to recognise Anabrabra as a deliberate “blackmail and attack.”

The Director-General of group, Ibiso Tailor-Harry, insisted Anabrabra was duly elected as minority leader in compliance with Section 101 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which states “the House shall regulate its proceedings”. The group again relied on Order 10 Rule 1 of the Standing Order of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which says, “the minority leader will be elected by members of the House and must be a member of the minority party.”

The group also relied on Order 6 Rule 7 which states that “in all proceedings of the House the Speaker shall interprete the Standing Orders” as well as Order 41 Rule 2 which states that “the decision of the Speaker is final”.

Tailor-Harry declared: “Apart from the Standing Orders of the House, it is also note writing that, Benibi Fredrick Anabrabra, is the only APC legislator in the House from the Rivets West Senatorial District and therefore should be given the opportunity to serve and project the Senatorial District in the political calculations of Rivers State.”

Some supporters of Anabrabra from Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, who accompanied members of the Rivers Ijaw Project, carried placards with the inscription: “Hon. Benibo has the right to contest for a position in the House. As a member of the APC he has a right to contest.” “He is only Ijaw man elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly. Ijaw supports Benibo.” “Oceania communities stand with Hon. Benibo.” “The concerned Kalabari Indigenes suppirt Hon. Anabrabra as minority leader”.