In a recent revelation, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Rev. Christian Ahiakwo, shed light on the reasons behind Senator Magnus Ngei Abe’s decision to withdraw his support for President Bola Tinubu. It is disclosed that Abe’s gubernatorial ambition led him to part ways with Tinubu before the general elections.
After departing from the APC, Abe joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where he secured the governorship ticket and subsequently contested in the March 18, 2023 election in Rivers State. Although he initially challenged the election outcome by approaching the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal, Abe eventually announced the withdrawal of his petition a few weeks ago.
Responding to a social media post by Dr. Bethel Oko-Jaja, the spokesman of the SDP Campaign Council in the state, Ahiakwo expressed his perspective on Abe’s actions. Ahiakwo stated that Abe prioritized his own governorship interest over supporting Tinubu’s presidential campaign, resulting in Chief Tony Okocha assuming a leadership role to steer the ship to success.
Ahiakwo also acknowledged the role played by Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who provided support to Chief Tony Okocha, enabling the triumph of the APC in Rivers State. He emphasized that the Abe faction did not actively campaign for Tinubu, emphasizing Abe’s abandonment of Tinubu at a critical time for the party.
The APC chieftain further asserted that the party members in the state are content with the leadership of Chief Tony Okocha, regardless of any formal appointment. Rejecting the notion of dependency on their leader, Ahiakwo emphasized that they are a political party and have already achieved the significant feat of producing a President. He highlighted the sacrifices made by APC members in severing their ties with influential figures like Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, expressing both pain and joy for having come this far without the assistance of these political powerhouses.
The revelations from Ahiakwo shed light on the internal dynamics and shifting alliances within the APC in Rivers State. The decisions made by Abe and the subsequent developments in the state’s political landscape reflect the intricacies and complexities of political ambition and party interests.
