PORT HARCOURT – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State is projecting a landslide victory in the August 30th local government council elections, with a party leader boasting that the APC will win all seats. The declaration was made by the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Victor Giadom, at a recent campaign kick-off rally in Port Harcourt.
A United Front and a “Renewed Hope”
Represented by former Senator Magnus Abe, Giadom proclaimed the Rivers APC as “united,” “strong,” and “ready to deliver the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.” He charged the chairmanship candidates to uphold the tenets of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” mantra and urged them to provide quality representation to their constituents.
Giadom also extended an invitation to all residents to join the APC, stating, “Everybody in Rivers State is welcomed to join the APC. Let us work together.” He expressed full confidence in the candidates, asserting that the election “is a no contest.”
A Shift in Strategy
Rivers APC Chairman, Tony Okocha, explained the party’s decision to participate in this election after boycotting previous ones. He stated that the newly constituted Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has followed the correct processes, unlike its predecessors.
“The processes put in place by RSIEC are right, and we are here to support, to follow those processes,” Okocha said. He also praised the seamless primary elections that produced the party’s candidates and declared, “We are not just going to test the waters… we are going to contest and win the elections in the 23 LGAs and win the 319 Wards.”
Praise for FCT Minister and a Call for Peace
Okocha lauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, crediting him with bringing together various politicians in the state to support the “Renewed Hope” agenda.
The party chairman also called for a violence-free exercise, describing the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as brothers to the APC. Okocha formally declared the campaigns open in all 23 local government areas and 319 wards, instructing candidates to “go and campaign” and “become fishers of men.” He later handed party flags to all chairmanship candidates and their female deputies.
