The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has publicly justified its decision not to nominate candidates in the Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas during the recently concluded council elections.
In a press briefing held in Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha, a representative of the APC, elucidated that the party considered itself ill-equipped to compete effectively against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in those specific local government areas. He characterized this decision as a strategic choice, asserting that nominating candidates in these constituencies would have been counterproductive.
Okocha remarked, “In elementary economics and international law, there exists a concept known as comparative advantage. It is unwise to place one's team in an environment where failure is likely. The APC lacked the necessary strength to contend in Port Harcourt City, especially given that the PDP candidate had previously served as mayor and council chairman, garnering substantial support from the populace for his past performance."
He further emphasized the party's approach, stating, “Our objective in contesting elections is not merely to gauge public sentiment; we aim to secure victories. Thus, we determined it was prudent not to field candidates in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni as part of our strategic considerations.”
In response to claims that APC candidates for the local elections were formerly members of the PDP, Okocha confirmed these defections. He defended this action by noting that the PDP is currently disorganized, and it is advantageous for the APC to attract its former members.
Okocha explained that most of these defections occurred discreetly, without garnering media attention. He emphasized that the APC strategically targeted politicians with established records of success, acknowledging that some long-standing APC members did not prevail in the primaries for these elections.
He stated, “Defection is a recognized phenomenon in politics. For example, Atiku Abubakar has engaged with numerous political parties since 1999, and each time he transitions to another party, he aspires to the presidency. The fact that he remains active is indicative of the political landscape."
On the state of the PDP, Okocha asserted, "The PDP is in disarray, a fact that is widely acknowledged. Their membership is diminishing rapidly. We consider ourselves fortunate to have attracted these individuals. Much of this recruitment occurred privately for strategic purposes, which has ultimately proven beneficial.”
Concerning the APC's future recruitment efforts, Okocha clarified that the party's ambitions extend beyond the Rivers State House of Assembly, particularly targeting the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He concluded, “The timing for such recruitment efforts is optimal. We will persist in our overtures not only to them but also to the Minister, encouraging him to join the APC for the sake of stability. The PDP is facing significant challenges."