The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist on Monday as the new state chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, yesterday announced the suspension of the Speaker of the House, Otelemaba Dan Amachree and the other 26 PDPs members in the state House of Assembly.
The exco also gave the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, a 48-hour ultimatum to explain the ownership of the Bombardier B.D 700 aircraft he claims belong to state.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had on Saturday grounded the aircraft for “operating illegally”.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, Obuah said members were suspended for ignoring the directive to rescind their suspension of the chairman, vice chairman and 17 councillors of Obio/Akpor Local Government last week.
Obuah stated that the decisions were taken after an emergency meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party, where the main agenda were the issues of the grounding of the Rivers State government aircraft and the dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government. He also declared their seats vacant in line with the appropriate electoral laws.
“The party hereby suspends all the 27 members of the House of Assembly that carried out such action while their matter is referred to the Disciplinary Committee for further action.”
On the grounding of the aircraft, the party said Amaechi should inform the “entire people of Rivers State and the PDP in particular as to the true owners of the Bombardier BD 700. He should also explain the role the Bank of Utah of the USA in the purchase of the aircraft and the identity of the owners of the company to be unveiled.”
PDP also asked the governor to either explain the whereabouts of the billions of naira expended on the aircraft or face disciplinary action from the party in the state.”