Politics

Rivers APC Faction Clashes With Tony Okocha Over Call For Fubara’s Resignation

Published

6 months ago

March 10, 2025

The faction of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hit back at Tony Okocha, another factional chairman of the party, for asking Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resign or be impeached.

Okocha had on Monday called for the governor’s immediate resignation or face impeachment, saying no investigation panel was needed because, according to him, the Supreme Court had already stated the facts.

Okocha, who FCT Minister Nyesom Wike heavily backs in the battle against Fubara, told journalists that he is the voice of the voiceless and the voice of opposition in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, the rival faction of the party loyal to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, headed by Chief Emeka Bekee, has pulled the rug off Okocha’s feet, saying the APC executive committee he is standing on has since been nullified for conducting the election that threw him up as chairman against court order.

Okocha said Fubara conducted LGA elections contrary to Federal High Court order, but Darlington Nwauju, publicity secretary of the Emeka Beke-led APC elected exco, reminded Okocha that he too is standing outside the law.

He said Okocha’s caretaker committee (CTC) was nullified by the court but that he held on without a valid court counterorder.

He also said the High Court in Port Harcourt ordered the APC not to hold the congress that brought Okocha in but that he (Okocha) relied on the support of a strong man to go ahead and hold the congress and emerged as state chairman in rivalry to a court-recognised state executive council.

He said the High Court also reviewed the actions and nullified the state executive he formed based on disobedience to court order, but that he (Okocha) has continued to serve and reign outside the law.

Reacting to Okocha’s call for Fubara to resign immediately or be impeached, Nwauju said in a WhatsApp message to newsmen: “Our response: Recall that part of the grounds which the Supreme Court latched on to sustain the FHC judgment that nullified the local government elections in Rivers State was that election went ahead despite the court’s judgment stopping the process.

“Now, our question is — if we are not a people suffering from collective amnesia in Rivers State, why must a Tony Okocha, who is still parading himself as chairman of the APC in Rivers against the judgment of the court, now be the person pontificating over abuse of or disobedience to court process?

“What kind of physician goes about healing others while needing a health emergency? The likes of Tony Okocha are conflict entrepreneurs as far as the political saga in Rivers State is concerned and posterity will not forget the ignoble roles he is playing in dismantling democracy and the rule of law in Rivers State!”

In a previous statement regarding Fubara’s attack, Nwauju accused Okocha of being unable to account for his time at the NDDC since his ‘unfortunate’ appointment. “He steadily deploys reverse psychology to pull the wool over the eyes of Rivers people to hide his visionless stray into the NDDC.

“But this “pot that has made it a duty always to call the kettle black” must know that we understand his antics, and we sound it as a warning to him that Rivers people deserve accountability for his lackluster tenure at the NDDC and we shall henceforth begin an expose on several fraudulently awarded projects begging explanations linked to him.

“Having maintained a steady voyage reeking in inconsistency, how do we even bother responding to a man who once said “the 27 members of the State Assembly are now in APC only a month later, the same person on national TV claimed they never defected but that he only tried to woo them? How can someone who does not know the color of our party register now tell the world who has left or joined the party? What can a cockroach possibly be saying in the gathering of fowls?”

The publicity secretary urged Nigerians not to continue to consult Okocha on matters relating to the APC in Rivers State.

Related Topics:#Rivers APC Fubara Rivers

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Politics

INEC Has Not Confirmed ADC State Leaders – Party

Published

2 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed a report claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed a list of its state chairmen across Nigeria.

In a statement on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the circulating report titled “Coalition Update: INEC Confirms ADC State Chairmen Nationwide” as “fake news” aimed at creating confusion within the party.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission, to the best of our knowledge and verification, has issued no such confirmation, neither officially nor unofficially,” Abdullahi said.

He explained that choosing and approving state leaders is the party’s internal responsibility, not INEC’s.

“The process of constituting and ratifying state leadership within any political party lies squarely within the party’s constitutional prerogative. INEC only recognizes what the party submits through the appropriate channels after due process,” he added.

Abdullahi urged ADC members and the public to ignore the fake list and wait for official communication.

“We therefore urge our members and stakeholders to remain calm, vigilant, and guided by official communication from the national leadership of the ADC,” he said.

He reassured supporters that the ADC remains committed to discipline, structure, and internal democracy, adding that any genuine updates on party leadership will be shared through verified platforms.

Politics

How Bello Deceitfully Assured Me Of Kogi Guber Ticket For 4 Years — Onoja

Published

12 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Former deputy governor of Kogi State, Edward David Onoja, has revealed that his former principal, Yahaya Bello, assured him for four years that he would succeed him as governor, only to change his decision a day before the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.

Onoja made the disclosure during an interview on MIC ON Podcast published on Saturday night, where he recounted his political journey and his relationship with former Governor Bello.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Onoja had served as Chief of State for about four years before becoming deputy governor under Bello until their tenure elapsed.

“For four years before 2023, he (Yahaya Bello) was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me, get prepared.’ And of course, I planned, I worked, and when it was time, he gave all of us the opportunity (to contest),” Onoja said.

According to him, about seven cabinet members at the time, including himself, picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination forms on Bello’s directive, but in the end, Bello’s support was with the current governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“At the end of the day, his heart and his choice was with the current governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” he said.

Onoja revealed that Bello broke the news to him just a day before the party primaries, a decision he respected despite his disappointment.

“When he broke the news to me a day before the primaries, I told him, ‘You are the boss, you are over me, what you see is what I see, so let’s go get the job done, but I hope you are not making a mistake.’ There were no issues, and then we went to the field and did our best for our candidate,” he stated.

Onoja, who is now a board member of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), emphasised that despite the turn of events, he remained committed to ensuring victory for the party’s eventual candidate and winner of the last Kogi State governorship election, Ododo, who went on to succeed Bello.

Politics

Alleged Infidelity: Soludo’s Wife Issues Senator Ekwunife Ultimatum To Apologize

Published

13 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Mrs. Nonye Soludo

…dares her for fidelity oath, paternal DNA test challenge

The wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has issued Senator Uche Ekwunife 72 hours ultimatum to withdraw claims of Infidelity against her and tender a public apology, or face legal action.

She also challenged the senator for both of them to swear an oath of fidelity before the Blessed Virgin Mary or subject their children to DNA tests.

The challenge followed claims by Ekwunife, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, who alleged that Mrs Soludo was once close to former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

In a statement issued on Friday, Nonye Soludo accused the former fenale lawmaker of fabricating allegations and dragging her children into political disputes.

She described Ekwunife’s comments as malicious and said: “Since Uche Ekwunife claims to be a converted Catholic, I challenge her for both of us to swear an oath of fidelity and chastity at any cathedral in front of the Blessed Sacrament and the Bible.

“I will swear (with my children) that in my 55 years on earth, I have known only one man—Chukwuma Soludo. On your part, you should also swear (with your children or your political ambitions) that since you got married, you have never cheated on your husband,” she declared.

Soludo’s wife also invited Ekwunife to scientific verification through DNA testing.

“I challenge you, Uche Ekwunife, for us to subject our children to paternity tests in three reputable hospitals in London. I will pay all the expenses, including travel for you and your family. If the results confirm that your husband fathered all your children, I will not only congratulate you but also present a cash award,” she added.

The governor’s wife emphasised her Christian upbringing and marital fidelity.

“I married him as a virgin and my fidelity to him in 33 years of marriage and for life is ironclad,” she said.

Declaring that her life has never depended on government patronage, even as First Lady, Mrs. Soludo vowed to sustain her defence “with decency, character, and grace.”

“My weapons are decency, character, and grace. I am a long-distance runner, and I welcome you to the marathon,” she stated.

The confrontation stemmed from Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s earlier questions over Senator Ekwunife’s academic qualifications. The APC deputy governorship candidate responded with sharp criticisms, prompting the governor’s wife to step into the feud.