The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of orchestrating the explosion at the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 29, 2023. Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC in the state, made these allegations during the party’s thanksgiving dedication service in Port Harcourt.
Okocha challenged Governor Fubara to disprove the allegations and urged him to investigate the incident that caused divisions within the state’s House of Assembly. He criticized the governor for failing to establish an investigative committee to probe the inferno that consumed the assembly’s chamber.
Speaking on the party’s structure and leadership in the state, Okocha assured APC members of a more robust and inclusive organization, vowing to transform the party’s image from being perceived as merely a “social club.” He acknowledged past mistakes made by the party and promised a reinvigorated APC built on a solid foundation, emphasizing a strategy for grassroots engagement.
Okocha, also a representative at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Management Board, expressed determination to oust the PDP from Rivers State, assuring members that the APC would contest elections vigorously and not boycott them.
Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, the National Legal Adviser of the APC, conveyed an invitation on behalf of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and all 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to join the APC. He emphasized the party’s alignment with the people’s interests and support for the Assembly members amid the challenges faced.
