After Emerging Rivers APC Chair, Okocha Vows To Unseat PDP In 2027
4 min read
Edith CHUKU
Chief Tony Okocha has been elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State.
Okocha emerged unopposed alongside 16 other executive members and was sworn-in on Saturday during the party’s delegates congress, held at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The election which was conducted through voice vote, was presided over by Dr Adoye Omalez who represented the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Ganduje.
In his address, the new APC chairman declared his party’s readiness to unseat the rulling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2027 general elections.
He noted that the era when APC could not participate in elections were gone, stressing that their target was to return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also take over government in the state.
Okocha commended the APC National Vice Chairman, South South, Chief Victor Tambari Giadom, Sen. Magnus Abe, Sen. Wilson Eke and other national and state party leaders for attending the congress.
He said: “I thought I had strength, I thought I had power, I thought I had guts. Few minutes ago when I came out and I saw these number of party members that came out to cast their votes for us, I thank my party. I’m an emotional person if you know me very well.
“Our joy is for the fact that they came on their own volition, nobody cajoled anybody to come, nobody bamboozled anybody to come here, 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 days APC couldn’t conduct and contest elections are over, APC will conduct and win elections and be in charge of government in Rivers State.”
He added: “Our business with you supporting us is to ensure that we route out a rudderless government in Rivers State today. 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 realms of governance from Assembly, chairmen of council, house of reps, governor, it’s the turn of the youths of our time.”
He further commended Tinubu over the development at the Port Harcourt Refinery, and thanked INEC for presiding over the election.
On his part, Giadom assured party members that fairness and equity would guide the party’s leadership decisions moving forward.
He commended INEC for monitoring the processes, assuring that credible leaders would be elected to lead the party for the next four years.
Giadom expressed confidence in APC’s position as the strongest political party in Rivers State, noting that the internal challenges faced by the party would be resolved following the conclusion of the state congress.
According to him, “the process of claiming the Rivers State Government House will start from today.”
Some party leaders in the state also took turns to speak with TNN in an exclusive interview.
Chairman APC Ward 14, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr. Onuma Maxwell said “I want to sincerely thank the leadership of All Progressives Congress for the conduct of Rivers APC Congress today which was very successful, which also saw the emergence of Chief Hon. Tony Okocha as the chairman of APC, Rivers State.
“It’s a welcome development. APC is ready now to function and live as one family. Our goal is to support the president to succeed and also support him in his bid in 2027. Also to produce governor in Rivers State in 2027, not just the governor, assembly members and all elective positions.
“We are grateful to God. We are grateful to the national leadership of the party and we wish those who have been elected today under the leadership of Chief Tony Okocha a successful tenure as they work together to see that APC in Rivers State function well.”
APC Ward 6 Secretary, Mr. Chukwu God’spower, debunked the assertion that the party in the state was factionalized.
He said: “Do we have any other faction in APC Rivers State? I don’t know, I am just hearing it for the first time.
“Chief Tony Okocha is a leader, tested and trusted, a man that you can believe, work with and you know you are with a leader. Okocha has been a very good follower. If there is any other person that deserves APC chairmanship for ever, it’s Okocha.
“Okocha is reliable, he will take us to our promise land, he is a visionary leader. Come any election at all he will deliver and I know Rivers State is APC and APC is Rivers State.”
Also, the women leader of APC in Omuma LGA, Mrs Eberechi Ezenwuji, urged the newly elected chairman and his executives to empower women, especially widows and orphans, and give scholarships to their children.
