The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially announced its willingness to work with Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his reinstatement to office on September 18, 2025, following a six-month suspension under emergency rule.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the Rivers APC, emphasized the party’s commitment to constructive governance and political stability in the state. “The governor who was suspended will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns,” Okocha stated.
While affirming the party’s readiness to cooperate, Okocha made it clear that the APC would maintain its role as the main opposition, holding the administration accountable and resisting any “vicious policies.” He added, “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 right to criticise him when he does wrong.”
The announcement follows the APC’s strong showing in the recent local government elections, where the party secured 20 out of 23 chairmanship positions, signaling a strategic shift in Rivers State’s political landscape. Okocha described the elections as a “prelude to the 2027 general elections,” noting that the APC deliberately focused on areas of comparative advantage while avoiding traditional PDP strongholds.
Okocha also expressed optimism about the party’s growth, contrasting its position in the 2023 elections with its current momentum. “In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes. Now we are wearing psychedelic shoes,” he quipped, underscoring the party’s revitalized grassroots presence.