The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it is prepared to collaborate with Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his return to office on September 18.
However, the party emphasized that working with the governor would not prevent it from carrying out its primary opposition function, which is to hold him responsible for governance issues.
Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the Rivers APC, made the announcement Tuesday during a news conference in Port Harcourt.
Okocha promised that the APC would continue to broaden its base of support while simultaneously providing helpful critiques of the Fubara government.
“The suspended governor will return to office on September 18,” he stated. When he returns, the APC will collaborate with him.
“There are states where the Governor and Assembly members are in different parties, so we are going to work with him.
“However, that will not take away our right to criticise him when he does wrong. But for us, the LG chairmen will work with him, except that we will not agree to vicious policies.” Okocha said.
Commenting on the just-concluded local government elections in the state, Okocha described the exercise as a prelude to the 2027 general elections. He explained that the APC deliberately avoided contesting in PDP strongholds but concentrated on areas where it had a comparative advantage.
He said, “The Rivers State LG election is a prelude to what will happen in 2027.
“Whilst we were campaigning, I told our people that there is a need for us to believe in the centre and leave the periphery.
“We did not field candidates in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs because we do not have the strength in those areas.
“It was our own calculated strategy not to field candidates in those LGAs and concentrate only where we have a comparative advantage. Remember that Rivers State was a PDP state.”
