The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has pledged to continue constructively criticizing the state government to ensure accountability.
The Chairman of the APC Rivers Caretaker Committee, Tony Okocha, made this known during an appearance at the News Agency of Nigeria forum in Abuja on Sunday.
Okocha emphasized the APC’s role as a vibrant opposition party in Rivers, stressing its responsibility to speak for the voiceless and highlight areas needing improvement.
He noted that constructive criticism would help demarket the Peoples Democratic Party and Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
The APC chairman attributed the party’s newfound prominence to its critical stance, stating that it had transformed from a “social club” under former leader Rotimi Amaechi. Okocha expressed the party’s desire to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.
In related news, Okocha addressed the recent defection of pro-Wike lawmakers from the PDP to the APC. He challenged those disputing the defection to provide proof of registration and membership cards in court.
A recent court ruling dismissed a suit filed by the Action Peoples Party seeking to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant. The court cited the suit’s failure to meet the 14-day filing deadline.
The APC’s strategy in Rivers State is expected to shape the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said:” it is the responsibility of the APC as an opposition party in Rivers to checkmate the activities of the state government.
“Our position as a viral opposition in Rivers, is first to speak for the voiceless in the society via constructive criticism and point out grey areas to the state government.
“By so doing, we are demarketing Gov. Semilaiye Fubara and his party: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is our dream to collapse opposition in the state so we can have a smooth seal in 2027 election.
“We are not supposed to be applauding the PDP in Rivers, if this be the case, we won’t be able to win elections in the state.
“Our business is to constructively criticise the government and that is what is giving us prominence, otherwise we inherited an APC that was not a party, but a social club,” Okocha said.
He explained that this was so, because Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Minister of Works who was the party’s leader in Rivers, customised and colonised it.
He said the APC’s desire was to see opposition parties weakened so it could have a smooth seal in 2027 presidential election.
“We can’t allow them to be strong, we will not close our eyes and watch them become united and come again with their force like the Labour Party did with Peter Obi, its presidential candidate in 2023 presidential election,”he said.
Speaking on the Federal High Court dismissal of a suit seeking to replace the pro-Wike 27 lawmakers, Mr Okocha said they were not members of the APC as was being alleged.
“They didn’t join us, I wooed them and did much more to get them to join us, I begged them, but they didn’t join us.
“I am saying this as chairman APC Rivers caretaker committee, clearly and without missing words, they didn’t join us.
“Let anyone saying they joined us show proof, the law is not about emotion but concrete facts,” Mr Okocha said.
