Rivers APC Pledges Cooperation With Governor Fubara Ahead of September 18 Reinstatement

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has expressed its willingness to work with Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his reinstatement to office on September 18.

State APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, made the declaration during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, stressing that collaboration with the governor would not prevent the party from holding him accountable on governance issues.

“The governor who was suspended will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns. There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties, so we are going to work with him. However, that will not take away our right to criticise him when he does wrong,” Okocha stated.

He added that local government chairmen from the party would cooperate with the governor but reject “vicious policies.”

Speaking on the recently concluded local government elections, Okocha described the polls as a prelude to the 2027 general elections. He explained that the APC strategically avoided fielding candidates in PDP strongholds such as Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, instead focusing on areas where it had a comparative advantage.

“In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes. Now we are wearing psychedelic shoes. We are going to double and redouble our membership for the President, and as far as my party is concerned, we will be fielding him for a second term in 2027,” he said.

Okocha also took aim at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming it was in disarray and losing members to the APC. He specifically urged PDP loyalists, including the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, to defect to the APC.

Governor Fubara was suspended from office on March 18 by President Bola Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid escalating political tensions and militant attacks on oil facilities allegedly linked to the governor. Tinubu subsequently appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as the state’s interim administrator for six months.

Last weekend, after casting his vote in the council polls, FCT Minister Wike declared that the elections had paved the way for Fubara’s reinstatement.