Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has set his sights on the political future of Rivers State, declaring the party’s intention to capture the state in the 2027 gubernatorial elections. Ganduje made the bold statement while inaugurating the newly elected executive committee of the APC in Rivers State, led by Chief Tony Okocha, during an event held in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The inauguration was a significant moment for the party in Rivers, as Ganduje and other high-ranking members of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) descended on the state to formally welcome the new leadership. During his speech, Ganduje made it clear that despite the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South region, the APC was making steady inroads and had already secured victories in states such as Cross River and Edo.
“Our goal is clear: to win Rivers State in 2027,” Ganduje said. “Though the South-South is traditionally controlled by the PDP, we have shown that with hard work and dedication, we can make a difference. Cross River and Edo States are proof of this. Rivers State is next in line.”
In a move that signaled his commitment to grassroots involvement, Ganduje emphasized that the inauguration of the Rivers APC executive was a departure from the traditional approach, where such events are usually held at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. “We decided to inaugurate the committee here in Rivers State to ensure that the party is deeply rooted at the grassroots level,” Ganduje explained. “Our national leadership is fully committed to working with all levels of the party, from the ward levels to the state levels.”
The APC National Chairman stressed the importance of unity and cooperation between the national leadership and the state executive. “There should be no gap between the national and state levels,” Ganduje stated. “The state is our constituency. We need to embrace it, be in contact with it, and work in harmony with it.”
He also called on the newly inaugurated 36-member state executive, headed by Chief Okocha, to focus on strengthening the party within the state. Ganduje outlined the key responsibilities of the new leadership, urging them to ensure internal democracy, seek out new party members, and work towards increasing the party’s influence at the local level. “You have a duty to ensure the party’s growth. You must be vigilant in managing internal affairs and conflict resolution within the party,” Ganduje advised the new leadership.
As a leader who has navigated the political terrain in Nigeria for years, Ganduje urged the Rivers APC executive to maintain peace and unity within the party ranks. “You must create an effective conflict resolution mechanism,” he emphasized. “The party needs to be united and focused. We must work together to achieve our goal of taking over Rivers State.”
The APC’s push for political dominance in the South-South region is a significant development in Nigeria’s political landscape. Historically, the region has been a stronghold of the PDP, but the APC has made notable inroads under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ganduje reflected on the APC’s progress in the region, citing the party’s success in Cross River State during Buhari’s administration and its more recent victory in Edo State under Tinubu’s leadership. “Out of the six states in the South-South, we have now won two,” Ganduje noted. “Rivers State is the next target. We are here to win.”
In addition to political competition, the APC faces significant challenges in the region, particularly in terms of mobilizing support from the electorate and overcoming entrenched political power structures. However, Ganduje’s optimism about the future of the party in Rivers State was palpable, as he rallied the new executive to rise to the occasion.
At the heart of this push to capture Rivers State is Chief Tony Okocha, the newly inaugurated state chairman of the APC. Okocha, who took an oath of office alongside his fellow executive members, assured the party leadership that the APC in Rivers is united and determined to claim victory in the 2027 elections.
“We are one united party in Rivers State,” Okocha declared. “We are confident that we will take over the Government House in Port Harcourt come 2027. Our opponents have already been defeated, and the APC is ready to step into power.”
Okocha’s confidence echoed Ganduje’s assertion that the APC is making significant progress in the state, and he urged party members to remain committed to the cause. He also reached out to members who are currently involved in legal disputes within the party, calling for unity and reconciliation. “I urge those who are still in court to return to the party fold. There is nothing to challenge anymore. The power of the party is supreme, and we must all work together for success.”
He further stressed that the APC in Rivers is focused not on opposing the current government but on offering an alternative that will improve the lives of the people. “Our business is not to cheer the government in power but to expose their failures,” Okocha said, referring to the PDP-led administration in Rivers. “We are here to show the people that the APC is the true alternative.”
