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…As Tony Okocha thanks Rivers voters, says APC now a willing party, no longer a social club
What looks like a major political turnaround may soon occur in Rivers State.
This is because the Nyesom Wike-backed All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State which had waged fierce war against Gov Sim Fubara to the point of his suspension has announced readiness to work with him should he be recalled any time soon.
Tony Okocha, the arrowhead of the fracas with Fubara, bolstered by the backing of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, has himself announced Monday, September 2, 2025, that his camp was ready to work with Fubara but would not support any obnoxious policy.
Addressing a fully attended press conference Monday morning at the APC secretariat on Aba Road (the secretariat of the camp loyal to Wike), Okocha said Fubara’s return is no more a matter of conjecture because September 18, 2025, was already known as end of the state of emergency.
Read also: Wike denies backing APC in Rivers LG polls, says he only campaigned for PDP
He said everybody expected Fubara to return to power on that date. On whether the APC that fought him to this state would work with him with the 20 APC LGAs now in their kitty and the governor now in miserable minority, Okocha said they would back him so long as he would not bring up any obnoxious policy.
The APC chairman who does not admit there is another faction (the one led by the Amaechi-backed Emeka Beke that was recognized by the court) rejoiced at the victory of the party at the last weekend LGA elections.
The APC won 20 and PDP won three, but Okocha said they just tested the waters. He told newsmen that the victory was in tandem with his mission statement when he took over as caretaker committee chairman of the party (after the suspension of the elected exco) that the APC would begin to contest elections in the state and also win.
Before then, the party was always stopped from fielding candidates by one court case of the other instituted by men believed to be backed by then Governor Wike. Most of those persons are now fully and openly working with him (Wike).
Okocha was said he was given the task of rebuilding the APC in the state said the party will double the figure in 2027 to reelect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Read also: Wike slams politicians pushing Jonathan’s 2027 bid, cites 2015 betrayal
He said: “We promised to provide platform for our members to contest and win. We worked hard on this and in the 319 wards in 23 LGAs of the state selling the APC. We promised to bring Rivers State into Nigeria’s political mainstream. Now, winning 20 LGAs is no mean feat.
“We are on a new trajectory which is all about success. The APC in Rivers State is no more a social club.”
Justifying the over two million votes returned for the 23 chairmen, Okocha said it was because people at the grassroots have more reason to turn out and vote because they have more affinity with the candidates than they would have in higher elections (governor and president).
“We have over five million registered voters in Rivers State. So, two million votes is no magic.”
He said what happened in Rivers State during the election was unprecedented; “No gunshot anywhere, no hijacking of ballot boxes, no late arrival of materials, and peace everywhere.
“This is because we are weaving something; the rainbow coalition. You can call it ‘collabo’ if you like. It is an amalgamation of politicians from all parties and camps into one family in support of the President.”
