I’ll continue to criticize Fubara’s administration —Rivers APC Chair

The Chairman of the Rivers State Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Okocha, has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to holding the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration accountable through constructive criticism, prioritizing the interests of the people.

Speaking on Sunday during a forum at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Mr. Okocha emphasized that it is the duty of the APC, as the opposition party in the state, to ensure the government is scrutinized.

He stressed that the party’s goal is to advocate for the voiceless by highlighting the shortcomings of the current administration.

“By pointing out areas where Governor Fubara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have fallen short, we are ensuring they do not gain undue popularity,” Mr. Okocha said. “As the opposition, our role is not to praise the government; doing so would jeopardize our chances in future elections.”

Okocha further noted that the APC’s critical stance has strengthened the party’s position, especially given the challenges it inherited. He criticized former Rivers APC leader Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of personalizing and monopolizing the party during his tenure.

Looking ahead, the APC chairman reiterated that weakening both the ruling party and other opposition groups in the state is crucial for the APC’s success in the 2027 general elections. “We will not sit idly by and let other parties, like the Labour Party did with Peter Obi in 2023, unite and challenge us,” he remarked.

Addressing a recent Federal High Court ruling, which dismissed a lawsuit seeking to replace 27 pro-Wike lawmakers alleged to have defected from the PDP to the APC, Mr. Okocha clarified that those lawmakers were never members of the APC. He added that despite efforts to persuade them to join, they refused, and there was no formal registration of the lawmakers as APC members at any level.

The court had ruled that the case, filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP), was statute-barred for being lodged after the 14-day legal window.