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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has rejected claims that the ongoing political reconciliation involving former political rivals is being driven by the 2027 elections.
The party said the reconciliation between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was aimed at restoring political stability and creating an environment conducive to peace and development in the state.
Rivers APC spokesperson and supporter of the Rainbow Coalition, Chibuike Ikenga, stated this during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday.
Ikenga said the political discussions were focused on bringing various stakeholders together and reaching a consensus on issues affecting the state.
He dismissed suggestions that the initiative was merely a campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
“When there is consensus, when people have agreed, when everything has been put in place and all interests have been properly taken care of, you know it will drive, it will, engender progress, it will engender oneness, it will engender unity, peace, and development,” Ikenga said.
“It is not about campaign tricks, it is about what we intend to do, and we have all agreed and signed on that we are going to deliver good governance to Rivers people.”
He was responding to comments by Dr Ilonu Nwobu-Basa, who had questioned a reported meeting involving Wike, Fubara and the APC governorship candidate, O.K. Chinda.
According to Ikenga, the meeting formed part of efforts by the Rainbow Coalition to reconcile political interests that had previously been divided in Rivers State.
He described Wike as the leader of the coalition and said the former governor had continued efforts to rebuild the political team in the state.
“The shenanigans he threw and the tantrums he threw yesterday were just to the fact that the leader of the Rainbow Coalition, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of FCT, had continuously rebuilding, had continued to rebuild the team in Rivers State and had finally met with the governor and his team,” he said.
Ikenga also pointed to the involvement of politicians from other parties as evidence that the coalition was expanding beyond its original political base.
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He cited the reported return of ADC governorship candidate Dr Sekonte Davies to the APC and Rainbow Coalition, as well as the Labour Party’s participation in the political arrangement.
The APC spokesperson said the coalition was primarily concerned with issues such as good governance, transparency, accountability, credible elections and development in Rivers State.
“We are all Rivers people. We are interested in the interest of Rivers State. And what is the interest of Rivers State? Good governance, free, fair, and credible election, transparency, and then accountability, that’s what we are pursuing,” he said.
Ikenga further rejected the suggestion that the reconciliation was centred on the individual political ambitions of those involved.
He said the stakeholders were working together because they shared a common interest in the future of the state.
He also maintained that Governor Fubara had publicly expressed support for the coalition and its APC governorship candidate.
“He has said so, he addressed the world before, he addressed Nigerians, the video is viral, if you Google it you’ll get it. We are all together,” Ikenga said.
On the impact of the reconciliation on Rivers State, Ikenga argued that the reduction in political tensions had created room for greater focus on development.
“We do we no longer want that crisis that had retarded development in Rivers State, we want to move our state as fast as possible in terms of development,” he said.
He added that the state was witnessing a calmer political environment, noting that residents were no longer experiencing the level of confrontations and violence that had characterised previous periods.
“We are all committed to bringing peace to our state and, of course, development,” Ikenga said.
