By Emeka Amaefula
TENSION RISES AS ATIKU ABUBAKAR PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL APPLIES FOR USE OF AMIESIMEKA STADIUM FOR RALLY AT PORT HARCOURT
The Rivers state Chapter of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council led by Chief Dr. Abiye Precious Sekibo is now in dilemma bare 16-Days to the hosting of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers state. This is coming on the heels that Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike had refused to respond to application to use either 60, 000 sitting capacity of Amiesimeka Stadium in Port Harcourt or Port Harcourt Polo Playground. The application was said to have been done on the 10th of December 2022 more than the stipulated period according to the Executive Order 21.
Before now, the Rivers state Governor and other agitating PDP Governors have been demanding for the resignation of the PDP National chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu since the Presidential candidate of the Party hails from the Northern part of Nigeria as in the Zoning Formula enshrined in PDP Constitution Article 7 (2)(C) which states “In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by appropriate executive committee at all levels.”
But this contravenes the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with several pronounced judgements from courts of competent jurisdiction as it is not justiciable for the court to declare which geo-political zone the office of the President should come from as it is mainly an internal political matter of the party.
Worst still is the fact that Parties cannot be consent waiver nor will the enlarge or abridge the constitutional provisions being that the Law is constitutionally axiomatic. Hence Parties cannot pull out of the constitutional provisions. This is the reasons that PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu or His Excellency Atiku Abubakar cannot contemplate to surround the mandate given to them by the delegates who elected in accordance to the provisions of 1999 Constitution as Amended and in consonance to Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC laid down guidelines.
Few days ago in the last week of December 2022 the Rivers state Governor ordered the sealing of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Office at Onne Road GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt citing the fact the occupiers did not apply for permission to use the premises as A political campaign office which according to the Rivers state Governor goes against Executive Order 21 and Order 22. But the Rivers state chapter of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Council with Dr. Precious Abiye Sekibo debunked the claims stating that they have fulfilled the conditions stated in the Executive Orders 21 and 22.
The stage is now fixed for the battle ground between Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers state and the incumbent Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on who should blink first. As at 31st of December, 2022 Rivers state Governor or his Commissioners have remained adamant on the issue granting permission for the 16th January 2023 Atiku Abubakar Presidential Rally to be held at Port Harcourt Rivers state capital.
————————-Emeka Amaefula—————-+234(0)8111813069
