The crisis rocking the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN ) in Rivers State has taken a new dimension as the State acting Chairman, Esuku M. Esuku, has insisted that he remains the authentic chairman even as the national leadership of the party has accepted the resignation of a leader of the party in the state, Dr Abiye Sekibo.

The acting chairman of the party, who stated this in an interview in Port Harcourt last Friday said those  causing problems in the party in the state had started leaving the party , denying that he had collected financial inducement from the state government to register members for the proposed African Progressive Congress ( APC).

Esuku, described the allegation by Mr Jerry Needam as stupid, unreasonable and unfounded, stressing that there was no time  Governor Chibuike Amaechi  or his agents had meeting with him to discuss matters concerning registration or for him to work for them.

According to him , ‘’I and Governor Amaechi were friends during the days in National Republican Congress (NRC), believing that the governor can not attempt to offer bribe to anybody.

‘’ Those spreading these rumours are doing so out of ignorance and stupidity ’’, he said

Commenting on embezzlement of party  funds , the embattled state chairman said there was no time the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) or the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission paid the sum of N8million to any of the political parties in the state to run elections, either in cash or  by cheque.

He explained that all funds from RSIEC were paid through the party’s account,which he was not the sole signatory to.

“For any withdrawal then, the signatures of other members of the executive must be there. The party stakeholders were always aware of any money being withdrawn from the party’s account which also followed due process as stipulated in the party constitution, he said.

He, however, said the money received from RSIEC was spent in the last local government election and legal matters.

On the suspension of Hon Kenneth Kobani and four other members of the party, Esuku explained that Hon Kobani’s matter was before the National Executive Committee of the party, while Jerry Needam, Lolo Ibieneye, Nancy Nwankwo and Alali Green remained suspended from the party.

According to him, the four members remained suspended pending when the party would set up a panel to investigate their matter which involves anti-party activities with the factional executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),headed by Brother Felix Obuah.

He alleged that Mr Needam and three others were petitioned to have violated the party’s constitution to support a faction of the PDP in Rivers State.

“Jerry Needam and others were identified at the Port Harcourt International Airport with other members of the PDP to welcome and receive Felix Obuah-led PDP executive which many considered to be purely party affairs,’’he said.

He went further to explain that Mr Jerry Needam and other three members names were mentioned in the committees of Obuah led faction of the PDP in the state, an indication and confirmation that they were involved in anti-party activities.

Esuku noted that Mr Amonibia Akolo and Mr Hope Onyeche have no  powers within the constitution to suspend him, adding that the persons who signed the purported suspension were not members of the executive and that the suspension was not in accordance with the rule and regulation of the party.

The chairman disclosed that Mr Akolo, who was the former secretary of the party in the state was sacked due to his inability to write and read minutes in addition to his inconsistency in the party.

He called on the party loyalists to remain faithful and not to be distracted by the fake rumours of his suspension, stressing that he still heads the party in the state as the chairman.

Enoch Epelle