2023 polls: Rivers former Chief of Staff, Okocha denies Wike links, commits to Tinubu

Tony Okocha, a former chief of staff for the Rivers State government and a representative on the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, has refuted claims that he is attempting to thwart the efforts of APC officials in the State.

Additionally, Okocha denied rumors that he was still connected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the State.

The APC leadership in the State has been at odds with the recently retired chief of staff for the Rivers State government.

Okocha is allegedly working for Governor Nyesom Wike to further destabilize the state’s main opposition party.
Okocha is allegedly working for Governor Nyesom Wike to further destabilize the state’s main opposition party.

He was previously described by the APC’s state leadership as a supporter of Bola Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate, and a member of a non-governmental organization.

The State APC leadership denied Okocha’s allegations that Patrick Tonye-Cole, the APC’s candidate for governor in Rivers State, had declined to canvass support for the party’s presidential candidate.
Two weeks ago, some members of the PCC led by Okocha staged a walk out from the PCC meeting after it disagreed with a former Director-General of Port Authority, Sokonte Davies who was presiding over the meeting.
Okocha responded, “I am a member of the All Progressives Congress, I am a founding member,” when the Rivers State Presidential Campaign Council of the APC went to inspect the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt for the presidential campaign rally scheduled to take place on February 15, 2023. When this party was established in Rivers State, I served as its Chief of Staff. If only two people were aware of our decision to defect from the PDP to the APC, I was the second, following Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. And I have continued to adhere to the party’s standards, rules, and principles.
Others might have departed, like my dear friend Magnus Abe, who went to the SDP. Therefore, no one can accuse me of being a suspect member of Tinubu’s group just because I play SDP. Like I said, our friendship is the foundation of our relationship.

However, Okocha is viewed in Rivers State as an APC faction member.