Rumours are high that Sim Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers State, may defect to the national ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Indications are however rife that such a defection may not be a simple walkover.
This is because Tony Okocha, that man through whom many know the mind of Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister who has been at war with Gov Fubara, has fired what looks like warning shots in Port Harcourt.
Okocha has worked with Wike for a long time; being special assistant to Wike when he was Obio/Akpor LGA boss, being rumoured to be Wike’s agent in the APC when Chibuike Amaechi’s men were in charge in the party, etc.
Now, Okocha has stepped out clearly to identify with Wike and has been known to be Wike’s handle in Rivers APC. Okocha is chairman of the APC faction loyal to Wike.
Now, Okocha has told newsmen in Port Harcourt May 28, 2025, that those who want to join the APC must get approval. He did not say where they should get the approval from.
He also said the persons wanting to join the APC in Rivers State must not enter through the window. He did not explain what the window approach means, but said they must act when the window had not closed.
The Wike faction of the APC in the state had supported the 27 lawmakers who renounced their defection by saying that defection would be at ward levels where the intending member must seek and obtain registration.
This may mean that certain marked persons may be blocked at ward levels for membership. Many however said Gov Fubara’s defection into the APC may be a top level matter that may involve the powers that be in Abuja.
Okocha, who has endeared himself with the Asiwaju group in the APC at national level with strong backing of chairman of the National Working Committee (Abdullahi Umar Ganduje) through the FCT Minister, has tried to overshadow the Amaechi faction in the state led by Emeka Beke.
Okocha continues to cling tightly to the NWC and Asiwaju group. He got his faction of the APC to raise endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2027. This was done May 28, 2025, at a stakeholders forum of leaders of the faction from state to ward levels.
The motion for endorsement of Tinubu was raised by Ferdinand Anyanwata, chairman of the party in Port Harcourt City (PHALGA) and was supported by Kelechi Nwuzi, the party’s legal adviser.
Speaking, Okocha said the endorsement was first done at the national level of the party with top leaders of the National Assembly raising the motion. He said the state only tried to join voices in the endorsement.
He pointed to what he called numerous achievements of the president and debunked notions of starvation in the land. Okocha said hunger did not start in Tinubu’s time.
