Tony Okocha, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, has asserted that the party will persist in its constructive criticism of the government led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, emphasizing the importance of advocating for the state’s citizens.
Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday, Okocha stated that it is the APC’s duty to hold Fubara’s administration accountable.
He highlighted that the party, as the opposition in Rivers, aims to represent the marginalized by offering “constructive criticisms and highlighting areas of concern.”
“Through this approach, we aim to undermine the credibility of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Okocha remarked. “We cannot afford to support the PDP government in Rivers, as doing so would jeopardize our chances in future elections.”
“Our mission is to provide constructive feedback on the government’s actions, which gives us a competitive advantage. Previously, we inherited an APC that resembled more of a social club than a political party,” he noted.
Okocha explained that the party had been shaped by Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Works and a key figure in Rivers APC, who had personalized and dominated the party.
He expressed the party’s objective of weakening both the ruling party and other opposition groups to ensure a successful run in the 2027 general elections.
“We cannot allow them to grow stronger. We will remain vigilant to prevent them from uniting their forces, similar to how the Labour Party rallied around Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election,” he stated.
Addressing the recent dismissal by the Federal High Court of a suit aimed at replacing the pro-Wike lawmakers, Okocha clarified that these lawmakers are not affiliated with the APC, despite claims to the contrary.
He asserted that there is no evidence of the lawmakers’ registration with the APC, even at the grassroots level.
“They did not join our ranks. I made considerable efforts to persuade them to come on board, even going so far as to plead with them, but they declined,” he emphasized.
As the chairman of the Rivers APC caretaker committee, Okocha reiterated unequivocally, “The 27 pro-Wike lawmakers are not our members,” referencing their reported defection from the PDP to the APC on December 12, 2023.
