APC Faction Rejects Call for State of Emergency in Rivers State

A faction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, reportedly loyal to former Minister for Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected calls for declaring a state of emergency in the state. This follows demands from the opposition party in Rivers State for President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency due to the ongoing political crisis since the swearing-in of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

During a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Chief Tony Okocha, Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers, asserted, “Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.”

Contrarily, a faction of the APC opposed the call for a state of emergency. The faction’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, condemned the call, describing the faction led by Tony Okocha as fraudulent.

Nwauju stated, “The APC in Rivers State did not at any point in time hold any meeting amongst its members or consultations amongst its leaders to decide that the best strategy to address the brewing political crisis is to demand a state of emergency. There were no such consultations or meetings, so it cannot stand as the aggregate opinion of the APC members across the 390 wards in Rivers State. I want to quickly dispel such a rumor and dismiss it as unnecessary, illogical, and unpatriotic. Rivers State must have other means to settle these political issues.”

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He also highlighted the importance of caution given Rivers State’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s economy, advising against offering rash solutions to manage political challenges. Nwauju expressed the faction’s desire for peace in Rivers State, stating, “Our hope is that the Almighty will bring peace that transcends understanding to Rivers State.”

The political crisis in Rivers State escalated after Governor Fubara appointed and swore in local government caretaker committees, which the state house of assembly, loyal to Victor Oko Jumbo, approved. This move was opposed by some council chairmen loyal to the immediate past Governor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, leading to violence in certain areas.

Okocha had earlier argued that the Governor and Police were unable to manage the situation, necessitating federal intervention. He stated, “The governor is helpless, the Police are helpless. Therefore, the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, the upsurge that is going on in the state. I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard.”

The APC faction hopes for a peaceful resolution and stability in Rivers State without the need for a state of emergency.