Ahead of the October 5, 2024, Local Government elections in Rivers State, a significant political shift has occurred as some Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have defected to the Action People’s Party.
This development comes amidst speculations that Governor Fubara may abandon the ruling Peoples Democratic Party due to the alleged hijack of the state PDP structure by his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The lingering misunderstanding between Fubara and Wike has fueled the political crisis in the state. However, during a recent meeting with the Board of Trustees of the PDP led by Senator Adolphus Wabara at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara denied any plans to defect from the PDP, reaffirming his membership.
Despite the governor’s statement, council chairmen loyal to him and their supporters have joined the APP.
Notably, almost all candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the forthcoming local government poll are contesting under the APP platform.
In Port Harcourt City Council, the current CTC Chairman, Ezebunwo Ichemati, has publicly declared his candidacy for the substantive chairmanship position under the APP.
Ichemati promised to provide credible leadership if elected, stating, “We will defend the interests of the party and the state if elected into office. We will also adhere to the directive to avoid engaging in negative campaigns.”
Similarly, the CTC Chairman of Khana LGA, Marvin Yobana, and his supporters have formally defected to the APP. Yobana, who didn’t receive the governor’s blessing to contest the LG election, introduced Martins Ibibo as the APP’s candidate for the executive chairman of Khana.
The Rivers APP Chairman, Sunny Wokekoro, addressed a news briefing in Port Harcourt, announcing the commencement of the party’s senatorial campaigns on Tuesday, starting with the Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Bori, headquarters of Khana LGA.
Wokekoro described the APP as the party to beat, stating, “The Action People’s Party, Rivers State branch invites you today as partners in progress in changing the ugly narrative of governance in our state… To intimate you of our plans to embark on our campaigns under the guidelines provided by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.”
