The Deputy Governor of Rivers State,
Tele Ikuru, has dumped the state’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to
join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, reliable sources have told PREMIUM
TIMES.
Mr. Ikuru, who was one of Governor
Rotimi Amaechi’s major ally, is said to have announced his defection in Port
Harcourt, the state capital at about 4 p.m.
The decampee was first elected deputy
governor to Celestine Omehia in 2007, before the duo was removed by the Supreme
Court less than six months in office. When Mr. Amaechi was sworn in as
governor, he retained Mr. Ikuru as his deputy and the duo fought against the
interests and allies of the former governor of the state, Peter Odili.
At the time Mr. Amaechi fell out with
the leadership of the PDP and defected to the APC with majority of his aides,
Mr. Ikuru remained loyal to the governor and fought on the same side.
A source from the Brick House, Port
Harcourt, who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on
the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES, that Mr. Ikuru has left the APC.
“I can tell you that the deputy
governor has defected to the PDP. He has already informed the governor about it
and may soon address a press conference,” the source said.
Attempts to reach the media aides to
the deputy governor failed as they would not pick calls or respond to text
messages to their telephones.
Mr. Ikuru’s defection could further polarise
the already volatile political situation in Rivers that has pitted loyalists of
Mr. Amaechi against those of the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, who
himself is a former ally to the outgoing governor.
More details
later…
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