(By Iheanyi Ezinwo) -The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State had a successful elective state congress on Saturday, today, resulting in the emergence of Ambassador Desmond Akawor as chairman.
In his remarks at the elective congress that took place at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, said that it was heart warming that Rivers is the first state in Nigeria to conclude her ward, local government and state congresses resulting in the emergence of a new executive council, adding that the exercise was devoid of skirmishes, shootings and court injunctions over internal disputes, as has been the lot of some other parties in the state.
Bro. Felix Obuah, Outgoing Rivers PDP Chairman
While counseling the new chairman on the need to make loyalty his watch word, Governor Wike recalled that they settled on the out going chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah in 2012 as chairman because they found him reliable, and that in spite of the persecutions he was subjected to in the heat of the struggle, that Obua remained diligent and never betrayed the trust, but stood his ground until the end.
“He never wavered one day, never sabotaged government and the programmes of party”, Wike said, adding that he would have supported Bro. Obuah to go for a third term but for the constitutional limitation.
Governor charged Ambassador Desmond Akawor not to allow the high standard set by his predecessor to go down, even as he urged him to unite every body and shun any action that will distract the PDP administration in the state.
Also speaking at the elective state congress, the national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, praised the electoral committee for giving the party the most free and fair process in the conduct of the congress. He however called for the reform of the Electoral laws before the next election, stressing that “it is becoming increasingly impossible to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria”.
Earlier in his address,the outgoing PDP chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, said he served as chairman for 6 years, and that during the period, the PDP, in 2015 won the governorship and other elective positions, and that the same feat was repeated in 2019.
Bro. Obuah said that his administration left enduring legacies that have distinguished the PDP in Rivers state in Nigeria,
One major attraction at the event was the presence of medical personnel who administered hand sanitizer and other procedures so as not to compromise the health of the over three thousand delegates that participated in the elective congress.
Also elected into the new executive led by Ambassador Akawor were Aeron Chukwuemeka, vice chairman; Dr. Benibo George, secretary; Omodu Isaiah, Assistant secretary 2; Barr. Blessing Amadi, treasurer; Shedrach Chukwu, financial secretary, among others.
Meanwhile, all PDP faithful in Rivers state were on hand to participate in the elective congress which was conducted by officials of the PDP from the National Secretariat and observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
It would be recalled that Ambassador Desmond Akawor, an indigene of Oyigbo local government area of Rivers state comes into the new office with a rich experience in politics and governance, having served as Ambassador to South Korea, Executive Director at Nigeria Ports Authority, Director General of the PDP campaigns in Rivers state and as General Manager, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority and Director General of Greater Port Harcourt Authority, among other positions. He is humane, focused and holds promise of better days ahead for the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers state.
