APC will cease to be social club in Rivers — Caretaker Chairman
…As party receives 27 PDP legislative defectors
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port-Harcourt
The Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha has stated that the APC will unseat the ruling People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) in the State in the next general elections.
The Caretaker Chairman said if this feat is achieved, the Party will transform from its current social club status to a real political party that is meant to win elections.
The CTC chairman stated this Sunday during a dedication service and stakeholders meeting to officially receive the 27 PDP defected lawmakers into the APC fold in Port Harcourt.
He apologised to APC members for what he called mistakes of the past leadership, promising that henceforth the party under his watch shall contest and win elections as a real political party, instead of being referred to as a social club, as it is right now.
Okocha said the event is therefore to fashion out how to forge ahead as a political party.
“I apologise to APC members for the mistakes of the past party’s leadership. Henceforth APC won’t be a social club, but APC that will contest elections and win. This APC will chase PDP out of power in Rivers State. Presently there is no governance in Rivers State,” Okocha said.
He accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of sponsoring the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly to evade impeachment and queried the reason why he hurriedly opted to demolish the Assembly complex, instead of constituting a panel of enquiry to investigate the incident.
The CTC chairman stressed that impeachment is part of democracy and not a coup d’etat and as such should be expected when the need arises.
On his part, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule who spoke on behalf of other decampees justified their action, citing Section 109(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria to back up their action.
Amaewhule said he dares anybody that is opposed to their detection to test the law on that.
He advised people who prefer to read analysis instead of the constitution to retrace their steps.
Adding his voice, the National Legal Adviser of APC, Prof Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana who spoke on behalf of the National Chairman, Dr Abdulahi Ganduje said the President, Sen Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman and the entire party are happy to receive into its fold the 27 former PDP lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He said the President and National Working Committee of the party are poised to addressing the protracted crisis confronting the Rivers State APC.
