The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has refuted claims that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined their party.
The lawmakers, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, announced their defection amidst a political rift between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his former political ally, Nyesom Wike.
However, the Chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, stated on Monday that these lawmakers are not officially members of the APC.
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Okocha clarified during a press briefing in Port Harcourt that although the party is courting the lawmakers to join them, there is no formal record of their defection.
“The House of Assembly members have consistently stated that they are not members of the APC, and I can confirm that,” Okocha said.
“We are engaging with them, but as of now, they have not officially joined the party. There is no documentation to show otherwise.”
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Okocha also expressed the APC’s optimism about expanding its influence in the South-South region.
Following the party’s success in the recent Edo State governorship election, Okocha revealed plans to make significant gains in Rivers and Delta States by 2027.
He confidently stated that the APC is working toward controlling all six states in the South-South geopolitical zone.
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In addition, Okocha criticized the planned local government elections in Rivers State, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
He described the elections as an attempt to bypass legal rulings, noting that the APC has filed a lawsuit to halt the process.
According to him, the ongoing legal challenges make it unlikely that the election will proceed as planned.
“The proposed local government election is a clear disregard for the Courts and the rule of law,” Okocha said. “The matter is in court, and the governor is misleading the public by suggesting that the election will go ahead when there is a legal dispute that has not been resolved.”
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As a member of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Okocha emphasized that the legal and political climate in Rivers State does not support the election proceeding as scheduled, calling on Governor Fubara to halt the process.
