Jonathan vs Amaechi Latest: PDP suspends 27 lawmakers loyal to Governor Amaechi

The political forces against Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State cut sharper, yesterday, after 27 lawmakers loyal to the governor out of 32 in the State House of Assembly were suspended by the new leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PPD in the state. Their seats were immediately declared vacant.

The action of the Felix Obuah led faction of the party opposed to the governor was immediately rebuffed by the House leader, Hon. Chidi Floyd who decried the action of the new PDP executive as lawless and part of a set agenda directed at destabilizing the state.

The pressure against Amaechi nonetheless, Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu yesterday said attempts to clip the wings of the nation’s governors would be counterproductive as he said that those fighting the governors would come begging in 2015. Aliyu spoke while receiving secretaries of the PDP in the 19 Northern states. It was not clear if he had knowledge of the latest perceived moves against Amaechi who is chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF.

The National Secretariat of the party was yet to be communicated on the development in Rivers State last night just as there were mixed indications of a court action allegedly instituted by some elements in the House to stop Obuah from his action.

Obuah, who was penultimate week confirmed by the National Secretariat of the party as the new state chairman of the party announced the suspension of the lawmakers at a press briefing at the state secretariat of the party in Port Harcourt. He also declared the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant.

The latest development follows last Saturday’s ban by federal authorities on the official aircraft of the Rivers State government from flying in the country.