“APC Is Not a Dumping Ground—Fubara’s Sins Won’t Be Forgiven,” Says Rivers APC Chairman Tony Okocha

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has declared that the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara cannot simply join the ruling party without accountability or due process. Speaking to journalists at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, Okocha emphasized that the APC is not a political “dumping ground” for embattled politicians and that Fubara’s political “sins” would not be automatically forgiven if he attempted to defect.

Okocha’s comments come amid speculation that Fubara might be seeking to align with the APC following his suspension and a declared state of emergency in Rivers State. Although the governor recently met with President Bola Tinubu, Okocha insisted this meeting should not be misinterpreted as a sign of imminent defection to the party. He noted that Fubara has yet to initiate any formal reconciliation or approach local party structures, which is required by APC procedure.

According to Okocha, “If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party. That is not true. He has not spoken to me. He will enter the party through the door, not the window.”

The Rivers APC chairman stressed that any defection must begin at the ward level, and that none of his ward chairmen had reported any formal steps taken by Fubara. He added that visits to the President—especially during a festive period like Sallah—should not be politicized, referencing former Governor Osoba’s recent holiday visit to Tinubu.

Okocha also pushed back on the idea that APC is a refuge for troubled politicians. “You will jump into APC today and your sins are forgiven? That can’t be true. It won’t work that way. Then, it would have made APC a dumping ground for people who commit misdemeanour and believe that, by and large, we will come for reconciliation. No.”

He further stated that he is not aware of any genuine effort from Fubara’s camp toward reconciliation. “I can only say to you with the benefit of knowledge that I am not aware of any reconciliatory move. No reconciliation is going on. Mr President has said go and make peace. No attempt at that.”

Okocha also directed criticism at former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who recently remarked on growing hunger in the country. Okocha dismissed the comments as politically motivated, arguing that Amaechi, having held public office consistently from 1999 to 2023, including as governor and federal minister, could not credibly claim to be suffering.

“Amaechi is hungry not for food but for power. He had been speaker for eight years, governor for eight years, super minister for seven and a half years. If such a person said he was hungry, it was not in good faith but to cast aspersions on Mr President.”

He also condemned Amaechi’s reported remarks referring to the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a “child,” pointing out Wike’s extensive political experience, including as local government chairman, governor, and now federal minister.