The All Progressives Congress, APC, has successfully held ward congresses in Rivers State.
From Etche to Eleme, Asari Toru to Abua/Odual, Ahoada West to Akuku Toru, Oyigbo to Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, the story is the same.
Men and women, including youths, who filed out of their homes Saturday morning to participate in the congresses held in various wards across the State are in a jubilant mood.
Despite obstacles placed on the way in the last few years, following growing differences fueled by hate, ego and rivalry, these party members participated in the first round of processes, which hopefully would usher in internal democracy and lead to the establishment of party structures at all levels.
A few hours leading to the conduct of the crucial exercise designed to set up the base of the party in Rivers State, subterranean moves to scuttle it surfaced.
First, the credibility of the Committee enpanneled by the National Secretariat to handle the sale of forms and supervise the conduct of the ward congress came under persistent attack.
Thursday, The Chairperson of the Committee, Amina Ibrahim Gamawa fired back, saying there was no truth in claims that were coming from Abe and his supporters.
Friday, Senator Magnus Abe hurriedly summoned journalists representing major national media organs to a press briefing.
They were told that members of his team would withdraw their participation in the congress.
He alleged that his supporters were being denied forms by the National Committee set up to handle the exercise.
Abe also claimed that supporters of the Minister of Transportation were planning to launch physical attacks on members of his faction.
Given this background, Abe said the safety of his supporters cannot be guaranteed.
It was perhaps an ominous signal that some other step which may not be as palatable could be in the offing.
The APC Friday evening raised its own alarm as attention turned intensely in the direction of the courts where lawyers representing the party kept watch.
The Rivers APC said hours after Abe’s press briefing, that it had uncovered a plot to truncate ward congresses billed to hold in Rivers State.
Its statement signed by the official Spokesman, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke alleged Abe’s lawyers were shopping for a restraining order to stop the ward congress.
The statement which acknowledged Abe’s lawyers were in the premises of the Judiciary to file legal processes revealed that the State Chief Judge was equally in his chamber after official hours.
Sources within the judiciary who spoke to the Telegraph believe that there may have been an attempt by lawyers claiming to have received a brief from Freedom House to obtain an injunction from the courts in order to stop the congress in Rivers State.
Telegraph investigations indicate that the State Chief Judge who was apparently busy in his ofice later left the premises of the Judiciary at about 7pm on Friday.
The APC may have crossed the first hurdle but many, including lawyers, are monitoring to see what would happen next.
Will there be an effort to halt the second round of congresses in the State?
Only time will tell.