The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Chief Tony Okocha its new chairman.
OsunDailyNG understands that Okocha, who previously served as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, was elected unopposed along with other executive members during the state delegate congress held in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Saturday.
The congress, which utilized a voice vote for the election process, was overseen by Dr Adoye Omalez, representing the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Following the event, Chief Victor Giadom, the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-South region, praised the party delegates for their orderly conduct during the congress.
Giadom emphasized that the peaceful nature of the congress reflects the unity and cohesion of the APC in Rivers State, urging party members to rally behind the new executive to advance the party’s objectives.
In his inaugural address, the newly elected opposition party chairman asserted that the APC aims to assume control of the state government by 2027.
Okocha also expressed that his election dispels the notion that the APC lacks unity and cannot hold a peaceful election.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his significant accomplishments in office, particularly the recommencement of petroleum production at the Port Harcourt Refinery, and affirmed the party’s commitment to achieving success in future elections in Rivers State.
“If you know me very well, I’m an emotional person. Our joy is that our members came on their own volition. Nobody cajoled anybody to come, nobody bamboozled anybody to come here for the state primary election.
“They came to show their love for the All Progressives Congress. I like to reassure you I’m sure you are seeing the indices and the variables already.
“Those who said APC cannot conduct elections lied. APC will conduct and win elections and be in charge of government in Rivers State. Our business with you supporting us is to ensure that we route out a rudderless government in Rivers State.
“By the year 2027 God keeping us alive, we will have an election in Rivers State and our target with you is to help us so that APC takes the reign of governance in Rivers State,” Okocha stated.
Okocha added that with the mandate given to him and other elected executive officials, the party is set to capture the state in 2027.
He said: “From Assembly, local government areas, National Assembly, and governorship election, APC will win in Rivers state and also ensure that we return the hero of our time, President Bola Tinubu. Let me again use this opportunity to say to Nigerians that we are on cause. The APC is on cause in Nigeria. I’m sure you have watched or you have heard what happened at the Port Harcourt Refinery some days ago. This is the tip of the iceberg that you will begin to see.
“We have told you many times that Rome was not built in a day. That the day you plant a seed is not the day you will harvest it. So in less than two years, we have started up and running. The President has also directed that the Kaduna and Warri refineries should be on the same speed as the Port Harcourt Refinery. So when we can achieve this I’m sure the problems of Nigeria will be half solved.
“So let me say it to all of us, particularly my colleagues here, it’s one family. I want to assure you of the appreciation of APC in Rivers State that we will come up with the best for the interest of all of us. I want to thank the delegation from the National who have come here and dutifully and profoundly led this process to this right.
“Let me on behalf of the party thank you for your courage, dexterity for the love you have for the party. For this reason, you have left all that you are doing to come to Port Harcourt to superintendent this election to its logical conclusion. We would not have succeeded in concluding this process if INEC had not come to preside over this election. Of course, it’s their responsibility to preside over party primary elections. The leader of the delegation is no other person than the leader of INEC in the state he came here himself.”
Other elected positions during the state delegates congress were that of the Deputy Chairman of the party, the State Secretary, the Publicity Secretary, the State Auditor, the State women leader, the Youth leader, the legal advisor and Zonal leaders of the party in the three senatorial districts of the state.
