Anita Ogona
The Rivers State chapter of the Action Peoples Party (APP) has asked the South South Vice-Chairman of the Labour Party, Reuben Favor, to focus on preparing for the October 5 council election and stop engaging in mudslinging.
The state chairman of the party, Hon. Sunny Wokekoro, made this statement in response to allegations made by Reuben that candidates of the APP for the upcoming local government election are being handpicked by Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara.
Hon. Wokekoro dismissed Reuben’s allegations as childish and uninformed.
He said: “In that statement, Reuben clearly showed a very deep lack of knowledge about how party administration is run. Ordinarily, one won’t respond to the gibberish or give him the publicity he is looking for.”
“The issue of political party administration regarding their congresses and primaries is contained in each party’s constitution; every party has its modus operandi, and the Action Peoples Party is not exempted from that;
“We have done our primaries in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution, and we have gone beyond that.”
“Reuben and his paymaster, rather than showing gross ignorance of how a political party operates, should go and prepare for the election.”
“For the purported meeting that was held in the government house, I want journalists to ask that unknown figure if he was in that meeting and if he identified any party official of the Action Peoples Party as to allege that Governor Fubara was handpicking candidates for our party.”
“We have said it severally that Governor Siminilayi Fubara is not a member of our party and, as such, cannot handpick candidates for the party.
Hon. Wokekoro emphasized that Reuben lacks the locus standi to question the activities of the party.
He said: “It is only RISIEC that has the authority, if at all, to question a political party if their primaries and congresses are not done in accordance with the provisions of the law and not by a self-seeking individual who emerges from nowhere and thinks he has right of expression.
“From his choice of words, it is clear and identifiable in his speech; that it is the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau,” he added.
While acknowledging that the party remains focused despite ongoing verbal and physical attacks, Hon. Wokekoro explained that the party is willing to welcome members from other political parties.
He said that: “We have said that other candidates of any other political parties who feel that they are qualified to run under our party will be considered, but unfortunately we have gone beyond that point now, but at the fall of 2027 we might consider them because we are done and dusted with the issues and our councillorship and chairmanship candidates.”
Regarding the party’s readiness for the October 5 election, the chairman expressed optimism about winning the votes in all 319 wards and 23 chairmanship seats in the local governments.
He also mentioned that the party is following the timetable set by RESIEC, and those playing to the scripts of their paymaster are doing so ignorantly.
Media Unit, Action Peoples Party
10 September, 2024
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