By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
As the spate of resignations and defections continue to hit the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, with its publicity secretary, Chris Finebone, being the latest chieftain to leave the party, rumours have emerged that Dr Dakuku Peterside, another chieftain of the APC, may be next on the line of defectors.
Dakuku Peterside was the governorship candidate of the Rivers APC in 2015 . He is also the immediate past director-general of NIMASA. He has, in recent times, been one of the most vociferous critics of the Peoples Democratic Party-led Rivers State Government.
He has also remained a staunch loyalist of the APC and its leader, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, although he has been a bit silent since the party adopted Tonye Cole as its governorship candidate for the 2023 general election ahead of others who aspired to run for the office, including Dakuku.
However, the defection of Chris Finebone, a kinsman of Dakuku Peterside, to the PDP on Thursday night, has sparked rumour that the former NIMASA DG will soon follow suit.
A source close to him refused to confirm the rumours on Sunday but did not also deny it.
The source said: “That rumour has been on for sometime, right from when Dr Dakuku addressed journalists at the Port Harcourt Airport a few months ago.
“He said then that he would consult his supporters and stakeholders first before taking any decision about his
next move. Since then he has been calm. Even when people are resigning from the party, he has not made any comment. Although his silence has left some people confused about his plan, I still believe he’s committed to the party. That’s why I can’t confirm that rumour now or totally deny it because I don’t know his next plan. Only him can tell if he has decided to leave APC to join PDP or SDP or any other party. Am not in his mind.”
The source, however, revealed that pressure is being mounted on Dr Dakuku Peterside to dump APC and join PDP, in solidarity with his kinsman, Siminalayi Fubara, who is the governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers State.
According to the source, the pressure is coming from Dr Dakuku’s people.
Said the source: “The only thing I know is that Dr Dakuku Peterside has been facing some pressure from his people who want him to leave APC and join PDP to support his brother, Sim Fubara. It’s like the people believe that every Opobo son and daughter should support the PDP candidate now that they have been given the chance to produce governor.”
Asked if similar pressure was behind Chris Finebone’s decision to suddenly decamp from APC to PDP, the source said: “I can’t say for sure but the possibility is still there. The fact is that many Opobo politicians in other parties are likely to face pressure from their home front to support their brother. That’s why before Finebone’s defection, some others have also decamped. I don’t want to mention names but am sure you know some of them. So, I wasn’t surprised when I heard of Finebone’s defection. I won’t also be surprised any day I hear that Dr Dakuku has defected.”
A few months ago, some APC members in Opobo, said to be loyal to Dr Dakuku Peterside, defected to the PDP and pledged to support PDP governorship candidate, Sir Sim Fubara.
While the rumour of Dr Dakuku’s likely defection continues to make the rounds, TPCN’s checks show that more big names are likely to resign from the APC.
