…Exercise Very Successful, Says Okocha

…You Are Trampling on Rule of Law, Alleges Nwauju

By Daniel Abia

The internal crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) escalated on Saturday following the conduct of the party’s ward congress by the factional Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha.

Darlington Nwauju, the Publicity Secretary of the faction led by Chief Emeka Beke, accused Okocha of disregarding the rule of law. In a strongly worded statement, Nwauju alleged that Okocha and his allies were engaging in actions they had previously criticized.

“The same people who have loudly protested against others are now shamelessly trampling on the rule of law,” Nwauju said. “They have filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal but seem either overconfident or hypocritical in ignoring due process. Democracy thrives on the rule of law, and we cannot change the rules in the middle of the game.”

He further recalled the party’s past mistakes in Rivers State, citing the 2018 Congress that defied court orders, which subsequently led to the APC’s inability to field candidates in the 2019 elections despite being the ruling party at the federal level. “Participating in this Congress today is akin to spitting on the judgment of Justice Sika Aprioku,” he added.

In contrast, Chief Tony Okocha described the ward congress as a resounding success. In a statement, he expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the 319 wards in Rivers State, emphasizing that it marked a significant step in repositioning the APC to take over the state government in 2027.

“With the successful conclusion of the ward congress yesterday, we now look forward to the Local Government Congress on November 23 and the State Congress on November 30, 2024,” Okocha stated.

Prominent APC leaders in Rivers State participated in the congress, including Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, South-South Deputy National Chairman of the APC; Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Director of Energy Security at the National Security Adviser’s office; and Hon. Maureen Tamuno, Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company Limited. Others included Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, Chief Eric Nwibani, and Hon. Darling Amadi, among others.

Okocha praised the leadership style of his faction, describing it as people-centered and inclusive. “The APC in Rivers State is united, well-organized, and formidable under the leadership of Sir Chief Tony C. Okocha,” the statement concluded.

Despite the divergent views, the Rivers APC continues to grapple with internal conflicts, raising questions about its cohesion and readiness for the 2027 general elections.