“APC Will Work With Fubara When He Returns” – Okocha

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its readiness to work with Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his return to office on September 18, following the expected end of the emergency rule in the state.

Speaking at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the APC Chairman in Rivers, Chief Tony Okocha, said the party would collaborate with the governor in the interest of peace and governance but would not compromise its role as the main opposition in the state.

“The governor who was suspended will return to office on the 18th of September. APC will work with him when he returns. There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties. We are going to work with him. However, that will not take away our rights to criticize him when he does wrong. But for us, the Local Government Area chairmen will work with him except that we will not agree to vicious policies,” Okocha said.

The APC chairman also reflected on the just-concluded local government elections in Rivers, describing them as a preview of what to expect in the 2027 general elections. He explained that the party deliberately avoided contesting in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) such as Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs, instead concentrating its efforts on areas where it had a comparative advantage.

According to him, the strategy reflected the party’s growing confidence. “In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes, now we are wearing psychedelic shoes,” he said, adding that the party would double its membership base and back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.

Okocha also took aim at the PDP, describing it as a collapsing party losing members to the APC. He noted that defections were strengthening the APC in Rivers and across the country. “PDP is in tatters and people are leaving them in droves to other parties and we’re privileged to have them. We’ll continue our pleas for PDP members, particularly the FCT Minister, to come over to APC and have peace,” he stated.