Rivers Crisis: Okocha Knocks Fubara, Says ’27 Lawmakers Never Defected to APC’
The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn, with the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker committee chairman, Tony Okocha, denying claims that 27 lawmakers defected to the APC.
Okocha’s statement contradicts earlier reports of the lawmakers’ defection, which was attributed to the rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Okocha, the lawmakers, who are predominantly members of the PDP, are fighting with Fubara, but are not members of the APC. He emphasized that the lawmakers never defected to the APC, contrary to earlier reports.
“The 27 lawmakers are not members of the APC,” Okocha said. “They are fighting with Governor Fubara, but they are not APC members.”
Okocha’s denial has added another layer to the complex political landscape in Rivers State, where the PDP has been embroiled in a bitter power struggle between Fubara and Wike.
The crisis began when Fubara, who was inaugurated as governor in May 2023, began to assert his authority and make key appointments, which were seen as a challenge to Wike’s influence in the state.
The rift between the two men has deepened in recent weeks, with Wike’s loyalists, including the 27 lawmakers, opposing Fubara’s policies and appointments.
The development has raised concerns about the stability of the PDP in Rivers State, with some analysts predicting that the crisis could have far-reaching consequences for the party’s fortunes in the state.
As the crisis continues to unfold, Okocha’s denial has raised questions about the true loyalties of the 27 lawmakers and the future of the PDP in Rivers State.
