The Edwin Woko-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has strongly rebuked the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, following his comments regarding APC’s plans to secure the governorship seat in Rivers in 2027.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Tony Okocha-led APC state executive in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Ganduje declared that winning the Rivers State Governorship seat is a key priority for the APC in the upcoming election cycle. In response, Woko dismissed Ganduje’s remarks, asserting that there is no vacancy in the state’s government house in 2027.
“There is no vacancy in Rivers State. The people of the state will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s second term bid is unhindered,” Woko stated.
He further criticised Ganduje, reminding him that the people of Rivers State had already rejected the APC and would continue to do so, due to the party’s perceived unfriendly policies. Woko also expressed confidence that Governor Fubara would contest the 2027 election on the PDP platform, despite ongoing challenges within the party caused by what he described as “political polyandrist” infiltrations.
Referring to the 2023 gubernatorial election in Edo State, Woko warned that APC’s tactics of manipulating elections through “faceless security agents” would not be tolerated in Rivers. “The rape of democracy that took place in Edo will not be replicated here,” he said.
Woko, who emerged as the factional chairman of the PDP in Rivers State following the expiration of the Aaron Chukwuemeka-led state executives’ tenure, also reiterated that PDP stakeholders had inaugurated an interim leadership structure with him at the helm in September 2024. He and several other party members are currently challenging the legitimacy of Chukwuemeka’s election as state chairman, alleging that the congress that produced the current executive was conducted in violation of an existing court order.
As tensions continue to rise within the PDP in Rivers State, Woko’s firm rejection of APC’s ambitions underscores the ongoing political rivalry ahead of the 2027 election.
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