Why Rivers State PDP May Not Have A Governor In 2023

By Emeka Ahamefula

The current legal tussle existing between Dr. Farah Dagogo,  Federal House of Representatives Member representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency and Rivers state Government led by Nyesom Ezenwo Wike if not properly handled may go the way of All Progressives Congress Rivers state chapter as at 2018 to 2019. In the case of Ibrahim Umar and 22 others who paid money to purchase delegates form but were prevented to fully participate in the aforementioned Congresses held by Rivers state Chapter for House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives, Senate and Governor. The ruling by Supreme Court on Ibrahim Umar and 22 others against APC and Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC is a good reminder of what Dr. Farah Dagogo. First, is the fact that Dr. Farah Dagogo had purchased Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and made himself available for screening but was prevented to do so as he was arrested by the order of the Governor who saw his action of sponsoring protesters as alleged who came to the venue of the screening of aspirants. The two Count charges of illegally Possessing Fire arms allegedly has brought out a repeated scenario that prevented APC from participation in 2019 elections.

Towncrierng here reveals real reasons why PDP may not be on the ballot papers for Governorship election come 2023. The case currently being tried at Port Harcourt High Court where Dr. Farah Dagogo a Governorship aspirant is standing trial. The true picture of Dr. Dagogo being ordered by a Federal High Court sitting at Port Harcourt to be realised from Police custody but the Rivers state Attorney General Honourable Zacheua Adago and Chief of Staff Honourable Engr. Emeka Woke were not comfortable as he was still detained with poor health condition. Later Farah Dagogo was taken to Police Clinic where he was diagnosed with stomach Ulcer of worsening condition so much so that he was brought to the High Court of Port Harcourt premises on Monday 16^th of May, 2022 as he took plea and was reminded at Federal Maximum Correctional Center Port Harcourt.

The question on the lips of many political pundits include does a citizen not have the fundamental right of participating in an electoral exercise when no court of competent jurisdiction had convicted or having been found wanting in any of the conditions stipulated by INEC as qualifications for participation for Governorship position?  

Allegation of Dr. Farah Dagogo aligning himself with Atiku Abubakar a frontline PDP Presidential aspirant who is being trailed behind by Nyesom Wike whose PDP Presidential aspiration has reached feverish stage. Another information from grapevine has it that Rivers state Governor Wike wanted to maintain a clean slate of Political fiefdom where he is accused to have purchase 42 Forms including those of Sttae Governor, 32 Sttae House of Assembly members, 13-Federal House of Representatives and 3-Senatorial seats Expressions of Interest and Nomination Forms. That he has a long-drawn list of these PDP Party loyalists who he decides which political office that they should run. But Dr. Farah Dagogo who is said to have been on the good book of Governor Wike who has known him in the past as Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta M.E.N.D Operations Director for one of the Niger Delta resource Control agitating groups. First, he went to PDP Abuja Office and purchased Expression of Interest and Nomination Form without obtaining express permission from Governor Wike. Again, Dr. Farah Dagogo is being accused of doing the same thing Governor Wike did by purchasing 48 elective position Expressions of Interest and Nomination Forms. This is considered as affront to the political family Governor Wike intends to establish where he will have absolute control of who gets what and who occupies any political position in Rivers state.

The music is just starting and if the situation is not controlled it might affect the fortunes of PDP in presenting a Governorship candidate in 2023 Governorship election thereby following APC’s 2019 experience with Supreme Court finally ruling that APC cannot exclude an aspirant from participating in an lelction which is the fundamental right of every citizen especially one that has purchased Form with official document presented such as receipt and the Form itself.  Supreme Court in Ibrahim Umar and 22 others were asked to present themselves whenever APC will organize any Local Government Area Congress. This may not be unconnected with what happened on Wednesday, 18^th of May, 2022 as the disruption and shooting that took place at Rivers state chapter of APC along Woji Road GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt has colouration of repletion of 2018 internal war between supposed delegates loyal to Senator Magnus Abe against Supporters of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. This is because those delegates will be the ones that will elect Governors in the State Convention. Whereas the leader of APC in Rivers state supports Tonye Cole Senator Magnus Abe actually presents himself for internal democracy to throw up who will be the governorship flag bearer in the 2023 Governorship election in Rivers state.