By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has pledged to work with Governor Siminalayi Fubara when he resumes office on September 18, 2025, at the expiration of the state of emergency.
Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, who gave the assurance on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the party’s decision to cooperate with the governor does not mean it will shy away from constructive criticism.
Okocha explained that the APC and the newly sworn-in chairmen of 20 local government areas, who were elected under its platform, will work with Fubara in the interest of the state, but stressed that the party will not support what he described as “vicious policies.”
He noted that the APC’s performance in the August 30 local government election, where it won 20 out of 23 LGAs, was a clear signal of what should be expected in 2027.
“The governor who was suspended will return to office on 18th of September. APC will work with him when he returns. There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties, so we are going to work with him. However, that will not take away our rights to criticize him when he does wrong, but for us, the LGA chairmen will work with him except that we will not agree to vicious policies,” Okocha said.
He described the council polls as a prelude to the 2027 general election, boasting that the APC in Rivers now has the strength to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes, now we are wearing psychedelic shoes. We are going to double and redouble our membership for the President. As far as my party is concerned, we will be fielding him for a second term in 2027,” he added.
The APC chairman further assured that under his leadership, the party would intensify efforts to attract new members, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, lawmakers, and other key stakeholders across the state.
He clarified that the APC did not field candidates in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs, where the PDP won, because the party lacked the strength in those areas, adding that the focus was on councils where the APC had comparative advantage.