APC, PDP in war of words over 2023 election in Rivers

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress has said it will reform and strengthen the party in Rivers State to ensure it takes control of the Government House in 2023.

The National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Mai Mala Buni, assured its members in the state that the party at the national level would do everything possible to ensure that the APC gained power in the state, in 2023.

Buni, who spoke on Saturday during the official opening of the party’s new state secretariat in Port Harcourt and the reception of new members from other political parties, said the new secretariat of the party marked the beginning of the APC’s victory in the oil-rich state.

The Yobe State governor, who was represented by the immediate past Deputy National Secretary of the party, Chief Victor Giadom, assured the new members of equal opportunity in the party and urged the party faithful to see peace and unity as a key to success, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He said, “Let me thank our resilient supporters in Rivers State for the strength and commitment they have all deployed to the success of this party in Rivers State.

“I don’t need to be told that this party is successful in Rivers State. I also know too well, and I should be quoted, that this party will form the government in Rivers State in 2023.

“This party will decide the fate of Rivers people and we shall do that with the love of God and with the belief that we want to better Rivers State.”

In his address, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by a former ambassador to Netherlands, Oji Ngofa, alleged that the incumbent administration of Governor Nyesom Wike lacked ideas on governance.

Amaechi, who is the leader of the party in the state, said the Wike administration had traded human capital development projects, healthcare facilities, education, and youth employment for flyover projects.

He said, “Our gathering today is a historic one in the sense that this secretariat marks the beginning of our match to end the joke that we have in Rivers State Government as governor.

“This secretariat will be an embodiment of capacity, values and ideas that the APC represents. And from here, we will plan all the strategies to root out those that have wasted six years, joking with the resources of Rivers State.”

But in a swift reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party urged the APC to first put its house in order before talking about taking over the Government House.

The state PDP spokesman, Sydney Gbara, said, “The truth is that the APC, even up till now, has not been able to put its house together, less be able to defeat the PDP.

“We in the PDP are clamouring for them to be able to come together, put their house in order and give us a credible opposition in the state, because we have always won elections back to back.

“So, it will be our joy if they are able to put their house in order and give (us) a run for our money and popularity. But I can assure you that, come rain or shine, the APC can never defeat the PDP in Rivers State. Rivers State is PDP and PDP is Rivers State.”

On the alleged waste of funds in the state, the PDP spokesman highlighted the completed and ongoing developmental projects under the Wike administration, saying it was a non-issue talking about wastage.