Mass Defection Looms In Rivers APC

There are indications that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State may lose prominent members before the 2027 general election.

The development, LEADERSHIP learnt, may not be unconnected with the recent disqualification of aspirants vying for various positions at the state and national levels.

Prominent among those disqualified by the screening committees of the party are serving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the National Assembly.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the indications that the APC may soon lose prominent members became clearer when one of the disqualified aspirants and the senator representing Rivers West in the National Assembly, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, addressed her supporters at Obuama Town in Degema local government area of the state.

The visibly angry female senator, who served as deputy governor to the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said, “By this, I am also pleading with our great national party, the All Progressives Congress to look into this matter and to do the right thing. I am sure they are capable of putting the records right.

“I don’t want you people to be agitated at all. But, when the time comes, we will still do the needful and God will do what he has to do,” she said.

Also, a disqualified aspirant for the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Legborsi Yamaabana, said he and others are consulting with the grassroots and would surely be on the ballot, but not on the platform of APC.

“Whatever they are contemplating for doing this, whatever they have done has a huge disservice to that political party. People like myself, people like Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo, people like Hon. Sokari Goodboy, we know we are the energy of this state.

“We are in a political party, trying to come in to make you win election because I being on the ballot has a ripple effect of making Mr. President win, making whoever is the governorship candidate of the party win and you are telling us we are not qualified to be in the party.

“If you disqualified me, give me a clear cut reasons for disqualifying me. My thinking had been that we will all be cleared to go and contest the primaries because I know nobody can beat me at the primaries.

“As I am talking to you, I am in consultation with the grassroots, with the youths. Very soon, you will hear the tsunami. We will be on the ballot and we will win this election because we cannot continue to shy away from this thing and leave it for another eight years or four years circle while our people continue to suffer in abject poverty,” he said.

Meanwhile, publicity secretary of APC in the state, has appealed to those who won and lost in the primaries in the state to close ranks and work towards the success of the party in the 2027 general elections.

Ikenga said: “Winning the primary does not guarantee victory in the general election. Candidates must carry everyone along to ensure overall success.”

He encouraged those who lost to remain committed to the party, assuring them that mechanisms are in place to address grievances and strengthen unity ahead of the general elections.