by ‘Jola Sotubo

The battle line has apparently been drawn between the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Rivers state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

The crisis in the state took a turn for the worse yesterday as the party’s state executive expelled 18 associates of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has been suspended by the party, and all this just before the party’s mini convention set to hold on Saturday.

Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan have been at loggerheads, with Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike leading the anti-Amaechi group in the Rivers PDP.

Among those expelled is the immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Chief Sam Sam Jaja.

According to reports, they were expelled for “failure” to appear before the Osinakachukwu Ideozu-led Committee on Performance Assessment of Political Office Holders, elected and appointed, on the ticket of the PDP in Rivers State, which was set up by party Chairman Felix Obuah.

Also expelled are: Secretary to the State Government (SSG) George Feyii; Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha and the Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Mrs. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam.

The expelled commissioners are Victor Giadom (Works), Augustine Wokocha (Power), Worgu Boms (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), Joe Poroma (Social Welfare and Rehabilitation), Ezemonye Ezekiel Amadi (Lands and Survey), Fred Igwe (Sports), Emmanuel Chinda (Agriculture), Joeba West (Women Affairs), Patricia Simon Hart (Water Resources and Rural Development), Okey Amadi (Energy), Charles Okaye (Chieftaincy Affairs), Dr. Nnabuihe Imegwu (Culture and Tourism), Ibim Semenitari (Information and Communications) and Samuel Eyiba (Local Government).