RIVERS RERUN--

THE atmosphere is charged in Rivers State ahead of Saturday’s rerun elections in the state. The two top contending political parties, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressive Congress, APC are flexing muscles for what many describe as the mother of all political battles. The battle is spread across the three senatorial districts with chieftains of the two parties in the three districts leading it from their respective bases. Rivers West Candidates Osinachukwu Ideozu The battle for PDP in Rivers West will be led by former Governor Peter Odili with the PDP Senate candidate, Mr. Osinakachukwu Ideozu and the state chairman of the party, Bro. Felix Obuah actively engaged in the battle to win the polls for the party in the senatorial district. Odili is from Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area and was out of the state for most of the eight years Amaechi was governor. He has, however, recently been making himself visible in the politics of the state; and whether he is physically present or decides to make his impact felt from his Abuja base, the onetime governor of the state would be an influence. Otelemaba Amachree The APC has in its flanks, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche and former executive director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC leading the battle for the APC. Nwuche would be a factor particularly in the Ahoada East and West axis of the state. Nwuche represented Abua Odua, Ahoada East federal constituency in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 and served as Deputy Speaker of the House at that time during which he was popularly known as Tiger. He fell out with Dr. Odili in 2002 when he declared his interest in the 2003 governorship election and purchased the expression of interest form to battle Odili. He, however, subsequently drew back at the point of the governorship primaries. Mr Henry Ogiri was Executive Director, Finance and Administration in the NDDC. He recently decamped from the PDP to the APC. He was also a member of the state House of Assembly when Chibuike Amaechi was Speaker of the House. Rivers East Candidates The PDP protagonists in Rivers  East would be led by among others, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sergeant Awuse and Prince Emma Anyanwu among others. Awuse and Sekibo are two of the most dogged politicians in the state with the ability to commander votes and people towards whatever direction they set their eyes on. Sekibo hails from Okrika, a staunch base of the PDP and hometown of former First Lady, Patience Jonathan. Andrew Uchendu: APC The APC campaign in Rivers East is being marshalled by among others, Chief Glory Emeh who served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Celestine Omehia, and the state secretary of the party, Chief Emeka Bekeis. Both men have strong tentacles in the grassroots and are expected to provide a formidable challenge against the desire of the PDP. The Minister of Transportation, Amaechi is one of the leaders of the APC in this senatorial district that is out to swing votes in favour of the party. Amaechi was two time Speaker of the House of Assembly. He was also two time governor of the state. He handed over to the current governor, Nyesom Wike.He is the leader of the party  in the state . Governor Wike is also from this senatorial district. He is the leader of the party in the state. He was Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt during the first term of Amaechi. He was also Minister of State for Education under former President Goodluck Jonathan. George Sekibo The current Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ikwerre local government area, Mr Samuel Nwonosike is another force in this area. He is from the same local government area with the Minister of Transportation, Mr Amaechi. Rivers South-East Candidates The drive for votes in the PDP will  be marshalled by bigwigs including erstwhile acting national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba, party chieftain Victor Giadom, a former commissioner for Works in the Amaechi administration and also a former Chairman Gokana local government area. He is a popular grassroots politician in Ogoni axis of the state Magnus Abe . The APC campaign will be marshalled by among others, Dr. Davies Ikanya, the immediate past governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Mrs. Ibim Semanitari, erstwhile Managing Director, of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the spokesman of the APC, Chief Chris Finebone. **prbxselfnetwork**