By Kolawole Ojebisi
The newly elected Chairman of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has said the party will win the state in 2027 general elections
Okocha noted that the winning would start by booting out what he described as “rudderless government” calling the shots in the state.
He added that the party would dominate every political post in the three tiers of government by taking leadership of local government, State and National Assemblies in its bid to have Rivers under its control.
Okocha, who was elected unopposed during the party’s delegate congress held in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday, said this during his speech after his emergence as the APC chairman.
He said, “Those who said APC cannot conduct elections lied. APC will conduct and win elections and be in charge of government in Rivers state. Our business with you supporting us is to ensure that we rout out a rudderless government in Rivers state.
“By the year 2027 God keeping us alive, we will have an election in Rivers State and our target with you is to help us so that APC takes the reign of governance in Rivers state.”
Okocha continued, “From assembly, local government areas, national assembly, governorship election APC will win in Rivers state and also ensure that we return the hero of our time, President Bola Tinubu. Let me again use this opportunity to say to Nigerians that we are on cause.”
Okocha, who was previously the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party in the state, was elected unopposed during the party’s delegate congress held in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday.
Okocha was also a former Chief of Staff in the state government during the administration of ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.
The delegate congress that elected the former Chief of Staff, was presided over by Adoye Omalez, who represented Abdullahi Ganduje, the party’s national chairman.
Speaking after the exercise, Victor Giadom, the APC national vice chairman in south-south, commended the party delegates for the peaceful conduct of the congress.
Giadom said the “peaceful conduct” of the state delegate congress showed that Rivers APC is united and indivisible party.
On his part, Okocha, said the election has proved wrong the opposition who believed that the APC is not united and cannot conduct a peaceful election.
“If you know me very well, I’m an emotional person. Our joy is that our members came on their own volition. Nobody cajoled anybody to come; nobody bamboozled anybody to come here for the state primary election,” he said.
“They came to show their love for the All Progressives Congress. I like to reassure you I’m sure you are seeing the indices and the variables already.
“Those who said APC cannot conduct elections lied. APC will conduct and win elections and be in charge of government in Rivers state. Our business with you supporting us is to ensure that we rout out a rudderless government in Rivers state.
“The APC is on cause (sic) in Nigeria. I’m sure you have watched or you have heard what happened at the Port Harcourt refinery some days ago? This is the tip of the iceberg that you will begin to see.” Okocha added.
