There are signs that the Peoples Democratic Party, the main opposition party, may lose its support base and strongholds in Rivers State during the general elections of 2023.
The rumored selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the PDP’s vice presidential candidate and the expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the just-concluded presidential primaries form the basis for the impending upheaval.
As a result, many PDP stalwarts and supporters are allegedly feeling discouraged and discussing terms for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, or Labour party.
Findings in Rivers State revealed persistent political horse-trading intended to cause a radical collapse of the current PDP structures into the APC or LP at the first general election bell.
Chief Emeka Beke, the Rivers State APC chairman hinted at the plan to shift the PDP record of electoral fortunes in the state.
Beke disclosed this in an exclusive interview in PortHarcourt, Rivers State capital.
The APC chairman also averred that when the concerted plans would be coordinated and implemented, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and PDP 2023 Presidential candidate would even win the 25 percent baseline vote required by the extant electoral law.
When further grilled, Beke explained that the state APC leadership was working assiduously to ensure the former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC 2023 Presidential candidate wins in the whole states of the South-South geopolitical zone and, Rivers State in particular not minding that Tinubu defeated the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the party’s presidential primaries.
Besides, discrete investigations uncovered that the parallel APC structures in the state are being harmonized as the disunited state leaders have decided to close ranks to work for the party’s success.
Reliable sources said the APC political foot soldiers have embarked on aggressive permanent voters card, PVC, and door-to-door campaigns across the upland and Riverine blocs of the state.
In collaboration, Beke said, “What we are doing now is that we are going around the wards, units and everywhere to campaign and make our people understand the importance of good governance in the state.
“If you want to win elections you need to mobilize your people. So, first, the people should go and get their PVCs. That is the most important thing.
“Then make them understand why they need to change from the present PDP government to the APC-led administration in the state come 2023 because Governor Nyesom Wike has failed Rivers people”.