The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, on Saturday stated that there was no faction in the Rivers State chapter of the party, noting that the Chief Tony Okocha-led executive was the authentic party leadership in the state.
This is as he vowed that just like the APC did in Edo State, the party would fly its flag in the Rivers State Government House in 2027.
Ganduje, who spoke while inaugurating Okocha as the elected APC chairman in Port Harcourt, alongside other members of the party’s State Working Committee (SWC), noted the need for harmony and love in the party.
Congratulating the newly sworn-in executive of the party, he said: “We decided to inaugurate the executives of the party here so that there is no dichotomy between the national and state leadership of the party. We need to be in harmony, in love with the state. It is very important.
“There is no more faction of APC in Rivers State. The only recognised executive is the committee led by Chief Tony Okocha.”
Ganduje also advised the leadership of the party to ensure that they woo more new members to the party, saying that their target is to take over the leadership of Rivers in the 2027 general election.
“As members and leaders, you are bound with the responsibility, according to the constitution of the party, to ensure that you lobby, and use your political desperados to woo people into the party.
“You are from the South-south zone where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominated, but during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, we were able to take one state. Now under President Bola Tinubu, we have one. Out of six, we have two. Since we have started this journey, Rivers is our target to reclaim”.
The APC national Chairman added that “To win Rivers State to APC, is a task that must be done”.
The National Legal Officer of the party, Prof Abdulkareem Kana led the newly elected executive on oath of office, with 16 other top members of the NWC of APC in attendance to witness the inauguration.
In his speech immediately after his swearing-in, the new party chairman, Okocha, promised that the party would occupy the state government house in 2027.
Okocha claimed that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara has no political party, adding that he may not be qualified to contest in the 2027 general election.
Addressing the national leadership of the party at the event, Okocha said: “We are in league to assure you that 2027 will be different. The man who is in Rivers State as a governor does not have a party and our constitution does not support an independent candidate.”
Okocha urged aggrieved members of the APC who are battling their position in court to withdraw the matter and join hands to stabilise the party in the state.
He said: “We advise a few of our members playing around the court to come back to the party. I don’t see the power of the court superior to the party. It is a one-party thing; we need to work together,” Okocha added.
Recall that Okocha was elected the new substantive chairman of the party in the state on November 30, this year.
Okocha emerged the party chairman through consensus votes by party delegates from the 23 local government areas of the state, during the APC state congress held at the party secretariat on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The APC in the state had been in crisis for about one year following a leadership tussle. While Emeka Beke-led executive of the party insisted that their tenure had not ended, the Okocha insisted that they were the authentic leadership.
In August this year, a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, presided by Justice Sika Aprioku sacked the CTC of APC in the state led by Okocha.
The court also restrained the national leadership of the APC from further recognising the Okocha-led executive and compelled them to recognise the Beke-led executive.
Also, following a notice of the party congresses in the state, a state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an ex parte order restraining the APC and Ganduje, from conducting elective congresses for the Rivers State APC without the determination of the issue at the court.
Blessing Ibunge
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