Amaechi, Ikimi appointed to resolve leadership crisis in Bayelsa APC

Gov Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers and Chief Tom Ikimi have been nominated by the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) to resolve the crisis rocking the party in Bayelsa.

Chief Richard Kpodo, the Interim Chairman of APC in Bayelsa, confirmed the development in Yenagoa on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Kpodo said the reconciliatory committee also included South-South members of the Interim Committee of the party.

According to him, the decision to harmonise the factions was informed by the need to avoid imposition of party structures and allow formidable team of party executives in the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The chairman said the committee would also intervene in the crisis rocking the party in Akwa Ibom.

He said the choice of Amaechi was based on his supervisory role as the leader in-charge of the party in Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

Kpodo said the committee was expected to meet with the factions of the Bayelsa APC in Port Harcourt.

NAN reports that the APC leadership crisis in Bayelsa is between those who joined the party from PDC led by Kpodo and the former members of ACN for the control of APC structure in Bayelsa.

Both factions have opened parallel secretariats of APC in Yenagoa.

Mr Miriki Ebikibina, former National Youth Leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and leader of the ACN component of APC also confirmed the peace move.

He said that all the feuding factions have been ordered to observe ‘ceasefire’

“The only aspect of APC crisis in Bayelsa is that loyalists of former Gov Timpre Sylva want to hijack the party from us.

“We are hopeful that the committee will resolve the issues before the inauguration of the party in Bayelsa.

“What the APC national leadership is doing is to ensure internal democracy in the party at the state and national levels,” Ebikibina said.

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier called on the national leadership of the APC to resolve the leadership crisis to maintain the peace in Bayelsa. (NAN)