…Calls for dissolution of party structure for fresh executives
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has hailed the statement by the presidency recognising Gov Sim Fubara that just defected to the president’s party as the authentic leader of the party.
APC has two factions in Rivers State, one led by Beke and recognized by two high court rulings, the other led by Tony Okocha and backed by the FCT Minister and the former National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. Now, the present national leadership of the party seems to be either neutral or supportive of the court recognized faction.
Reacting to the position of the presidency, the Beke-led faction said it is grateful President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sticking to the party constitution/convention by reaffirming the position of the Governor through his Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala.
The spokesman of the party in the state, Darlington Nwauju, said: “This Presidential clarification has once again vindicated our uncompromising stand on this matter and aligns with the policy thrust of our national party leadership under Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru.
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“We therefore commend the sincerity of Mr President to stick to party management direction which allows APC Governors to lead the party at the state level to engineer party cohesion and efficiency.”
The statement said this timely reaffirmation has justified the position of Rivers State APC on the position of the state governor (Fubara) as leader of the party in Rivers State and should correct any false or misleading narrative being peddled by political jobbers.
“Flowing from the above, we once more condemn in totality, the opinion offered by Felix Morka on the impeachment process against the Governor of Rivers State and his Deputy as his opinion and suggestion contradict the core essence of party membership.”
Nwauju further reminded the NWC of subsisting court decisions over Rivers APC leadership (Suit No. PHC/3592/CS/2023 & Suit No. PHC/3859/CS/2024) and requested that congresses to elect new sets of leadership for the party at the Ward, LGA and State levels be scheduled immediately in order to harmonize all contending interests.
“Finally, we request that the Governor and Leader of our party immediately convoke a stakeholders’ meeting to give our party a direction going forward.”
No word has been heard from the Okocha-led faction of the party so far.
