The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has pledged to work with suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara when he resumes office following the expiration of the state of emergency.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, APC Rivers State Chairman Chief Tony Okocha emphasized that the party’s commitment to support the governor does not preclude offering constructive criticism where necessary.
Okocha added that the party and the newly sworn-in chairmen in 20 local government areas of state elected under its platform will work and cooperate with the governor, but insisted that the party will not agree with the governor on vicious policies.
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Recall that APC won 20 out of the 23 local government areas of the state during the last weekend local government election.
He said the August 30th local government area election in the state is a prelude to what will happen in the State in the 2027 general election, saying that the leadership of the party is working hard to make Rivers an APC State.
He assured that under his leadership, the Rivers APC would continue to woo more members to join the party, including the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, members of the State House of Assembly, and other critical stakeholders.
He expressed optimism that Rivers APC would triple its support base by 2027 to deliver a resounding victory for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said: “The governor who was suspended will return to office on 18th of September. APC will work with him when he returns, There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties, so 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 LGA Chairmen will work with him except that we will not agree to vicious policies.
“The Rivers State Local Government election is a prelude to what will happen in 2027. Whilst we were campaigning, I told our people that there is a need for us to believe in the centre and leave the periphery. In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes, now we are wearing psychedelic shoes.
“We are going to double and redouble our membership for the President, as far as my party is concerned, we will be fielding him for a second term in 2027.
“Under my leadership, the Rivers APC would continue to woo more members to join the party, including the Honourable Minister of the FCT, His Excellency Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, members of the State House of Assembly, and other critical stakeholders across the state.”
He said that the party did not field candidates in Obio Akpor, Port Harcourt City and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas where PDP won because the party does not have the strength in those areas, explaining that the party only fielded candidates and concentrated in the areas where it has comparative advantage.