By Emmanuel Unah

The long running rumpus in the Rivers State chapter of the APC continues to ester as the different camps remain unyielding in their convictions

There has never been any love lost between the self acclaimed ‘original’ members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the new entrants in to the party from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP since after the 2015 general elections in Cross River State. They had always operated in parallel without pretence.

The congresses that commenced nationwide last weekend was as such expected to widen the bridge especially given the expectation that the new set of officials elected at the congresses would play decisive roles in producing those who emerge as nominees for the 2019 General Elections.

In perspective, those on   the side of the “original members” are party members   who were in opposition while the PDP was in power at the federal level. They are led by Pastor Usani Usani, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs. The new entrants include the likes of Mr. Hillaird Etta, national vice-chairman of the party, South-South who joined the party in 2013 after he lost primaries to contest the Calabar Municipality post for the State House of Assembly. Others include Senator John Eno, the senator representing Cross River South, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, former Senate Leader Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission among others.

The bad blood between these opposing groups stem from the belief by the   ‘original’ members who consider the new entrants interlopers who only went into APC   fold to usurp the benefits that should accrue to them who have been with the party   through thick and thin. The new members on the other hand see the old members as obstacles to the growth of the party having not made any electoral fortune since its days as Action Congress Nigeria, ACN.

Sometime in March, the two groups had an altercation at the party secretariat situated along Barracks Road in Calabar following an ill-fated attempt to suspend Pastor Usani from the party by a faction led by Hilliard Etta.

The failure of the effort seemed to have strengthened the camp of the minister as rumours of his governorship aspiration gained ground; an ambition which conflicts with that of Senator Enoh who is said to be harbouring same.

So it was not surprising that during the Saturday, May 5th  ward congresses that riot broke out at the party secretariat when party chieftains instead of moving to their wards for the congresses moved to the secretariat for a showdown over alleged contrivances to hijack the congress materials.

Following the confusion and disagreement, the electoral materials were moved from the party secretariat to the Cross River Police Command headquarters where they were lodged with the Commissioner, Mohammed   Hafix Inuwa

But on Sunday afternoon, the Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Etim John addressed the press and said that congresses had taken place and results being collated.

“I have heard in some places that ward congresses have been suspended in Cross River but that is not true as voting is going on now in some wards while results are being collated in others. The only authority with the power to suspend the congresses from taking place is the National Working Committee of our party or the National Executive Committee of the party and we have not received contrary directive from the two bodies. So the congresses are going on now in Cross River State.”

He called on those who lost to accept the result and work with the winners and allow the party to make progress.

“Just like a football match, you may play hard in the field and hope to win but still lose and when you lose, you have to accept the result and work with the winner- that is sportsmanship’

On his part, the Police Commissioner said contrary to the claims by state APC Chairman that the congresses held peacefully and the results were being collated,

“The Command has not released any material to any APC member for the conduct of congresses in the state. The stakeholders agreed among themselves after their earlier disagreement on Saturday, that they would not entrust the congress materials to any of them and brought them to the Police. “They handed over the materials to the area commander in his office. Even in the night ,Sunday, and even after 12 mid night ,Monday, up to the time I am talking to you, the area commander has not told me that he has released the materials to anybody. We cannot release the materials without my instruction.

The latest news is that the ward congresses have been rescheduled for Saturday, 12th May, the same date; the local government congresses were scheduled to take place. It is not clear yet if the two LG congresses would immediately follow the ward congresses or not.