Rivers: Group accuses LP lawmaker of anti-party activities

By Jude Opara

A group under the aegis of Obi for Nigeria (O4N) in Rivers State has accused Manuchim Umezurike, the member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1 at the House of Representatives under the Labour Party, of engaging in anti-party activities.
In a statement issued by its state leader, Tony Chinda, the group called on the Labour Party leadership, its 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to closely monitor Umezurike.
It alleged that signals suggest Umezurike is a “sleeper mole” within the Rivers State Government’s camp.
Despite being a Labour Party member, Umezurike has aligned himself with Governor Fubara amid the ongoing political impasse in Rivers State.
But Chinda, in the statement said the Federal lawmaker is working for the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The group, which claims that the party’s mandate was stolen in broad daylight during the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State, noted that they secured the Federal House of Assembly seat for Port Harcourt Constituency 1, which was won by Umezurike.
However, they accused Umezurike of failing to make any significant impact on his constituents, citing the lack of constituency projects and his alleged absence from plenary sessions for the past five months.
“Ever since Umerzurike Manuchim made it to such an elevated position, we are yet to see his value at the Federal House of Assembly. He has passed no bills nor has he contributed to the plenaries.
“We have copies of minutes from the floor of the National Assembly to show that since Umezurike Manuchim assumed that office, he has not been actively representing the people who gave him the mandate.
“Rather, he has been hobnobbing with members of the Peoples Democratic Party in anti-party activities, so much so that he lives in the Government House of the Rivers State Government.”
Chinda said, “Aside from the fact that the National dissolved the leadership of Dienye Pepple for anti-Party activities which Mr Umezurike was also a key partner to and suspending Deinye Pepple alongside others for anti-party activities, as court Judgment we obtained in suit no: PHC/753/CS/2023, in the court of Justice I Andango, set the argument of Deinye Pepple and co, aside for lack of Merit.

“But in the face of all of these, Umezurike Manuchi has continued to undermine the state leadership of Hilda Dokubo, even to the point of planning to create a parallel leadership at the LGA levels and Ward levels to compromise the structure in Favour of his paymaster Nyesom Wike.

“This we receive as credible intelligent reports. If the Labour Party will sit with folded arms and watch this slide, we will not. We the people voted for him.”

He added, “Knowing him as a chameleon, we advise the Rivers State Government to distance themselves from the person of Mr Umezurike Manuchim as we suspect him as a mole and a spoiler for Nyesome Wike.

The group further disclosed that it has initiated the process to recall the federal lawmaker.

They urged all constituents from Port Harcourt Constituency 1 to come forward and sign the recall document, which will be made public soon.