The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared its readiness to collaborate with Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his expected return to office on September 18, following the lifting of the state of emergency.During a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the State APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, assured that while the party would work with the governor, it would not compromise its role as the main opposition. He stressed that the APC would continue to hold the administration accountable and offer constructive criticism when necessary.
Chief Okocha stated that the collaboration would not deter the party from exercising its right to critique any “vicious policies” of the Fubara administration. He pointed out that the situation of a governor and a state assembly from different parties is not unprecedented in Nigeria, and the APC is prepared to work within that framework. He noted that the just-concluded local government elections, which saw the APC win 20 out of 23 chairmanship seats, were a prelude to the 2027 general elections.
According to Okocha, the APC’s success in the local elections was a result of a strategic decision to focus on areas where the party had a comparative advantage, rather than fielding candidates in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He expressed confidence in the party’s growing influence and membership base, stating that the APC is no longer a “social club” but a formidable political force in the state. He also took a swipe at the PDP, claiming that the party was in “tatters” and that members were defecting in droves to the APC.
Okocha further assured that the party’s elected local government chairmen would work with the governor but would not support policies that they deemed harmful to the state. The APC’s decision to pledge cooperation with the governor is a significant development, especially in the context of the political crisis that led to the state of emergency. It signals a potential shift in the political landscape of Rivers State and an attempt to find a common ground for governance.
