APP Moves to Take over PDP Structure in Rivers

 Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Action Peoples Party (APP) in Rivers State, yesterday, commenced their campaign at the Zonal districts level ahead of the October 5, 2024 Local Government Areas(LGA) election in the state.

Most of the contestants for the LGAs election who are contesting on the platform of APP were PDP members who left the party following the misunderstanding between the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his godfather, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Recently,  Wike presided over the congress that ushered in the new executive members of the PDP in the state, while Governor Fubara and his supporters were absent at the election held at the party Secretariat on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The Fubara supporters, who believe that since the leadership of the PDP in the state  is not in agreement with the governor, and for them to participate in the planned poll fixed for next week, they need to identify with other political party.

There was also yet to be confirmed information that the governor is itching to join the APP to remain relevant in politics, since  the national leadership of the PDP could not fix the crisis rocking the party structure in the state.

At the opening campaign rally for the election held at Bori, Khana LGA of the state, yesterday, contesters and APP supporters declared that they need to be liberated from the bondage of a single man’s order, saying that “We will not return back to Egypt after eight years of stagnation.”

THISDAY observed that mammoth crowd turnout for the campaign which also witnessed the presence of prominent politicians loyal to the FCT minister and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Supporters and APP members from seven  LGAs of the Rivers South-east senatorial district, at the campaign expressed optimism of the important of the upcoming elections, noting that it will drive development and progress in line with the vision of the governor.

A former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Oji Ngofa, who is presently a strong ally to Governor Fubara during his speech at the event in Khana, said they will resist any attempt by anyone to take the state back to Egypt.

He said: “It is time for Rivers people to use whatever platform to return the state to the people.”,

He explained to their supporters why they are in solidarity backing Governor Fubara.

Handing over flags to the various LGA chairmanship candidates, the APP chairman in the State, Sunny Wokekoro said the candidates were carefully selected based on track record of leadership capacity. 

He said the candidates will deliver the dividends of grassroots leadership. According to him, “by the time we are done with the LGA election, everybody from local, state and national will take APP seriously.”

Wokekoro, however, assured the people of victory, saying: “This will be made possible because the people are behind APP. God is on our side, to use us as a tool to liberate Rivers State”.

He said Rivers people irrespective of ethnic nationality, or sectorial affiliation are united over the quest for liberation of Rivers state, adding that APP is poised to deliver in such direction.