The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted claims that the party received approximately N2 billion in financial support from Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of the recent election. Reports indicated that Tinubu, who won the presidential election held last Saturday, also secured victory in Rivers State against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Allegations surfaced that Wike had allocated around N2 billion to assist the APC in organizing its presidential campaign in the state and to ensure Tinubu’s success.
On Thursday, Chief Tony Okocha, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, told reporters that the party had received both human and financial support from Wike. He further claimed that Wike’s contributions were crucial to the APC’s victory in Rivers State. However, during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday, Augustine Nwokocha, the Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council, stated that the APC did not receive any financial assistance or support from Governor Wike. Nwokocha emphasized that Okocha’s comments reflected his personal views and asserted that the APC and the people of Rivers State collaborated to secure Tinubu’s victory.
Nwokocha described Tinubu’s win as a natural outcome, attributing it to his “pragmatism” and highlighting that the credit for the victory should go to the APC and the citizens of Rivers State, who turned out in large numbers to vote. He stated, “The victory of our President-elect was a natural cause of events given his phenomenal pedigree as an astute politician and administrator with an unmatched track record of achievements.” He also acknowledged the collective efforts that contributed to Tinubu’s success, affirming that the APC’s performance in Rivers State should not be misappropriated by any individual.
Furthermore, Nwokocha urged all Rivers residents and APC members to vote for their preferred candidates in the upcoming governorship election on March 11, 2023. He expressed opposition to supporting Siminialaye Fubara, the PDP candidate and Wike’s choice, stating, “Rivers people should reject the call to vote the governor’s preferred candidate. It is an extension of the rascality which the government of the day in the state stands for.” He reiterated that the APC did not receive any financial support from the Rivers State governor, adding, “If he did, we were not privy to it. We are not aware.”
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