Jonathan, Wife Took Over Rivers’ Political Structure, Chased Me Out Of PDP Amaechi Alleges

Jonathan, Wife Took Over Rivers’ Political Structure, Chased Me Out Of PDP Amaechi Alleges Former Rivers State Governor and ex Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, took control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) political structure in Rivers State and forced him out of the party.

Amaechi made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television, where he reflected on the political crisis that led to his exit from the PDP. According to him, the takeover of the party structure by the former president and his wife created irreconcilable differences that eventually compelled him to leave the ruling party at the time. “I was literally chased out of the PDP,” Amaechi said, accusing Jonathan and his wife of dominating political decisions in Rivers State. The former governor stated that the struggle for control of the party structure marked the beginning of deep political divisions in the state, which later reshaped Rivers’ political landscape. Amaechi, who served as governor of Rivers State under the PDP before defecting, said the conflict was rooted in disagreements over leadership and influence within the party. He explained that after losing control of the PDP structure in Rivers, he aligned with other dissatisfied political leaders nationwide, a development that contributed to the formation and strengthening of the opposition coalition that later became the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former minister also used the interview to comment broadly on Nigeria’s political system, stressing that leadership competence not regional or sectional considerationsshould determine who becomes president.

Amaechi’s remarks have reignited discussions about the longstanding political rivalry in Rivers State, particularly the power struggle within the PDP that preceded his defection ahead of the 2015 general elections.The allegations add another dimension to ongoing debates about political influence, party supremacy, and internal democracy within Nigeria’s major political parties.