The Rivers South East representative in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, on Thursday shunned the All Progressives Congress governorship primary holding in Port Harcourt.
Abe, who was a frontline aspirant before the emergence of the member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside, as the APC governorship candidate, did not show up for the exercise.
Though no reason was given for Abe’s absence, sources said the Senator, who had already picked a senatorial nomination form, might not be happy over the consensus arrangement that brought out Peterside as the APC governorship candidate.
The governorship primary, which was held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, became a platform to formally endorse Peterside as the party’s candidate.
Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who spoke at the event, defended the choice of Peterside as the governorship candidate, but added that Peterside’s emergence did not mean that he (Peterside) was more qualified than Abe.
However, a drama took place immediately the governor announced Peterside as the governorship candidate and automatic ticket for the 25 incumbent lawmakers in the State House of Assembly.
Some aggrieved members of the party immediately left the hall in expression of their dissatisfaction over the position of the governor.
Amaechi maintained that the decision to pick Peterside as the consensus candidate of the party was in the best interest of the people of the state.
He described Abe and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odien Ajumogobia, as two Nigerians he held in high esteem.
Amaechi, who was addressing 4,700 delegates, pointed out that they (delegates) must ensure that APC occupied the Government House in Port Harcourt in 2015, adding that the sustainability of the projects executed by his administration was paramount.
He said, “The flagbearer by God’s grace is Dakuku Adolphus Peterside because we sat and agreed on that. That does not mean that my bosom friend, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, was not qualified. I respect his intellect.
“There are two Nigerians I respect their intellect. They are Senator Magnus Abe and Odein Ajumogobia. This is the time for that change. We will fight with everything we have to deliver the state to APC. This is our opportunity to ensure we will not suffer any more. This is the time to vote for our party.”
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