Abiye Sekibo Quits ACN

A former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, has resigned his membership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The Publicity Secretary of  ACN in Rivers State, Mr Jerry Needam, made the announcement in a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday.

“The leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State and governorship candidate in the 2011 elections, Dr Abiye Sekibo has resigned his membership of the party.

Sekibo wrote to the National Chairman of the party to announce his resignation. He quit the party for personal reasons.He wished all his friends still in the party well,’’ said the statement.

It would be recalled that the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State has started spreading to the opposition party ,the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) in the state following suspension and counter suspension of top members of the party in the state.

Twenty four hours after the announcement of the suspension of the National Treasurer of the party, Mr Kenneth Kobani, and four others by the state acting Chairman,Mr Esuku M  Esuku,the party also announced the suspension of Mr Esuku for an alleged financial misappropriation and collection of money from an opposing party.

In a press statement last Tuesday, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) alleged that Mr Esuku was suspended based on information that the acting Chairman collected financial inducement to register members and to work for the Governor of Rivers State, Rt.Hon Chibuike Amaechi.

The statement signed by the State Secretary,Mr Amonibia Akolo and the Chairman of Chairmen’s Forum of ACN, Mr Hope Onyeche further alleged that the acting chairman collected the sum of N4million which  according to him,had not been accounted for,N8million from Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of local government election.

The party, however asked the suspended party chairman to return the party’s property in his possession, alleging that the chairman was working with the state government to register members for African Progressives Congress (APC)

According to the statement,’’ by these actions, Mr Esuku has demonstrated that he is contemptible, selfish, a non serious party man, and someone that should not be trusted by the people”.

The party, therefore, stated  that Mr Esuku’s action of working with the Rivers State Government was personal and selfish, and not in the interest of ACN and Rivers people.

The party alleged that Mr Esuku’s action of accepting bribe from the Rivers State Government was unhealthy and not in the spirit of the ACN.

‘’The party, therefore, in its emergency meeting last Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State considered it expedient and resolved to suspend Mr Esuku M. Esuku from the party in accordance with the rules and regulations, and relevant statutory provisions of the party’s Constitution.

It would also be recalled that Dr Abiye Precious Sekibo last Tuesday dismissed the suspension of Hon Kenneth Kobani, Jerry Needam, Lolo Ibieneye and Alali Green, saying the action of the acting chairman was to destabilise the party.