APC The political imbroglio between the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his erstwhile political godfather Nyesom Wike seems to have not gone down with the resolutions reached by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as more political movements take place within the state, in connection with the crisis.
Recall that the Rivers State chapter of the Labour Party has thrown its weight behind the embattled Governor Fubara while his political godfather, Nyesom Wike enjoys the maximum support of the members of the state House of Assembly and a vast majority of the reckoning political stakeholders in the state.
Boosting the strength of Wike in the state, three candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State who contested for various constituencies of the State House of Assembly during the 2023 general election have dumped their party to join forces with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party political gladiators believes is currently enjoying the support of Wike though a member of the crisis-rocked People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The former SDP candidates/members who have just defected to APC include Mgbo-Awaji Augustus, who contested on the platform of SDP to represent Andoni in the Assembly; Chikweru Orlu, who vied for Obio/Akpor constituency II, and Bright Amadi for Obio/Akpor constituency I.
Speaking shortly after the defection at the new state APC secretariat situated at Aba Road, Port Harcourt, the former candidate of SDP who contested for Andoni constituency in the state Assembly, Augustus, said he defected to the APC carrying along seven ward chairmen from his LGA.
Augustus, who was also a former secretary of the Andoni Local Government Council, said he returned to the APC to support the current Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha to succeed.
Augustus added that he was one of the founding members of the APC in the state before he left to pursue his candidacy in the SDP.
He said, “I decided to come back to APC because this is my party. I am one of the founding members of the party in the state and have also benefited from the party. This is the party I rode upon to become the council secretary of my local government area.
“For a very long time, APC has not won elections in Rivers State and now that we are back with our strength to support the caretaker committee chairman, we are quite confident that APC will begin to win elections in the state. I am coming here with hundreds of people. Seven ward Chairmen in Andoni and all my supporters across the wards.”
On his part, Chikweru Orlu, who contested for Obio/Akpor constituency II, said he returned to the APC to support rebuilding a robust party that will begin to win elections in the state.
“I am sure of coming with 10 ward Chairmen of the SDP to join the APC where I belong. I have been in the party as one of the founding members of APC in Rivers State. I am back to my family and to see how we can move the state APC forward.
“Over, APC has just been in Rivers State like a social party, but I am sure with the new CTC chairman and his team, some of us who have come to join them will make a better APC in the state so that we can win elections and not only burial and social clubs.
“I am here to support the leadership of the party and see how we can rebuild a robust APC in Rivers State. The CTC chairman has also promised to lead an all-inclusive leadership and I am in.”
In a related development, This was as Mr. Lawrence Chuku, a former Caretaker Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council and a close ally of former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has pledged to support the present leadership of the APC Caretaker Committee in the state.
Lawrence Chuku, an ally to the former Governor of the state, Amaechi, who pledged support for the leadership of the current caretaker committee of the APC in the state, called on all aggrieved members of the party to come together and rebuild the party structure for victory in all coming elections in the state.
Chuku, alongside his supporters and other leaders, said they are also committed to APC under the national leadership of the party and President Bola Tinubu.
“Today, Okocha and his team have been appointed by the national leadership to bring the party members together. Forget about the offense.
“There can’t be two APCs in Rivers State, only one structure that is recognized by the national leadership in Rivers State. There is no perfect human being, the party chairman cannot be expected to be perfect, so all we need is to build our party.”
Responding to the development, Chief Tony Okocha, Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in the state, urged all aggrieved members of APC in Rivers State to come back and join the party to rebuild its structure as soon as possible.
Okocha expressed optimism that at the expiration of the current tenure of local government council Chairmen in the state, the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara would conduct elections, stressing that there would be no room for a caretaker committee for the local councils.
“We received former state Assembly candidates of SDP and their supporters. No division, my doors are always open.”
Category: World-News
Tag: Tension In Fubaras Camp as Three SDP Candidates Join APC in Rivers
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Published 1/11/2024 8:44:22 PM