The members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), yesterday, had an emergency meeting to discuss the congresses in Rivers State and other states, in preparation for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The NWC meeting has been delayed for the past three weeks amid rising tensions, especially between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors Forum over the status of Rivers party congresses.

The political conflict between Wike and the current Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, escalated on August 24 when PDP governors publicly backed Fubara.

PDP governors called for a review of the Rivers congresses, affirming Fubara’s role as the leader of the PDP in the state. This support for Fubara enraged Wike, who, on August 31, threatened to create chaos in their states if they did not refrain from interfering in Rivers matters.

In response, on September 3, the PDP Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threat as irresponsible.A senior NWC member, who does not want his in print due to lack of authorisation to speak publicly, disclosed that the Rivers and other state congresses will be addressed in the meeting.

Present at the ongoing meeting at the PDP headquarters in Abuja, are the NWC members, including the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.

Also in attendance are the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and Deputy National Chairman, South Taofeek Arapaja, among others.

MEANWHILE, the Rivers State House of Assembly members loyal to Wike, who are led by Martin Amaewhule, have flayed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, expressing disapproval over the purported appointment of individuals as chairman and members of the State Investment Promotion Agency.
  
During its 41st Legislative Sitting of the Second Session, yesterday, the Assembly’s Committee on Investments presented a report highlighting the absence of any law establishing the agency. 
  
The House expressed displeasure when the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Gerald Oforji, presented a report on the purported inauguration of the Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by the governor.
  
In the report, the committee stated that such an agency, if properly established, would create a conducive climate to attract and grow businesses in the state, but regretted the absence of any law known to the State Assembly establishing such an agency. 
  
The committee maintained that if such a law existed, the individuals nominated would have been subjected to the confirmation of their faction Assembly. Relying on the committee’s findings, members commented on the report, pointing out that the governor has relegated decency in governance to the background. 
  
The Speaker, Amaewhule, while reacting to the committee’s report, condemned the appointment and inauguration of the agency’s members. He emphasised that such acts constitute misconduct and will be properly addressed, recalling similar actions taken by Fubara, including appointing individuals to the Board of the Bureau for Public Procurement without regard to extant laws.