Okocha-Led Rivers APC Refuses to Participate In October LG Elections Amid Leadership Dispute

The Tony Okocha led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has threatened that his members will not participate in the State local government election scheduled to hold on October 5, 2024.

The caretaker committee of the APC who said the LG election will not hold in the state, disclosed that recently his position was renewed by the National Working Committee (NWC), adding that his tenure will expire on December 5, 2024.

Okocha also announced that both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not participate in the said election if it eventually holds.

The APC CTC chairman spoke on Tuesday while addressing an expanded Stakeholders meeting of the party in Port Harcourt, the State capital.

The meeting was attended by leading members of the party in the state, including its former Chairman, Ojukaye Amachree and Senator Wilson Ake, amongst others.

While insisting that the party in the state would no longer allow itself to be dragged into the opposition, Okocha accused the Emeka Beke-led faction of the party of working in synergy with the state government to oust the committee.

He said: “Our caretaker committee was to stay for six months and after the expiration of the six months, the National Working Committee extended our stay for another six months. So, we will be in the saddle of Rivers APC leadership until December 5, 2024.

“We are not part of the decision for an election in October. We are in court and we cannot discuss what is before the court. That October 5 election will not work. They cannot go on to conduct such election without a party like APC. I heard that PDP is also not participating in the election.

“We cannot participate in the election but there was a deliberate plan to oust us. Until the right processes are put in place, we will not participate in the election.”

Okocha said the party had already filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal on the recent judgment of a Rivers State High Court that sacked the caretaker committee and reinstated the Beke-led elected executives of the APC.

He said: “We have filed a Notice of Appeal over the Rivers State High Court judgement and our lawyer said he has filed a stay of execution  over the judgement.

“We will not allow anybody to drag into any opposition again. We are aware that they are working in cahoots with Rivers State government to oust us.”

Blessing Ibunge

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