Tony Okocha has been elected the parallel Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State following a state congress and subsequent election held at the factional party state secretariat at the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway. Okocha was elected unopposed at the delegate congress conducted on Saturday, despite a court order restricting the APC’s national leadership from conducting congresses in the state.
The order arose from a lawsuit filed by aggrieved members who alleged exclusion despite purchasing nomination forms.
The congress was presided over by APC national delegate and Chairman of the Congress Planning Committee, Adoye Omale.
In his acceptance speech, Okocha vowed to reposition the APC in Rivers State, stating that the party would no longer be sidelined in elections as it works toward gaining control of governance in the state.
Okocha also lauded the achievements of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, citing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s, NNPCL, recent announcement on the commencement of crude oil production at the Port Harcourt refinery.
He noted that full operation of the nation’s refineries would address significant challenges facing the country.
He commended the Congress Planning Committee for overseeing a transparent process and acknowledged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for monitoring the exercise.
The elected state executives include Tony Okocha as Chairman, Eric Nwibani as State Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga as Publicity Secretary, Karibi Dan-Jumbo as Welfare Secretary, and Darling Amadi as Woman Leader, among others.
Prominent APC members who attended the congress include South-South National Vice Chairman Chief Victor Giadom, Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, Chidi Wihioka, Ephraim Nwuzi, Magnus Abe, and Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, among others.
