The National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress on Friday inaugurated members of the caretaker committee for the Rivers State chapter of the party.
The inauguration, which took place at the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja around 12.30 pm, had the party’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; Vice Chairman for South-South, Victor Giadom and members of the NWC in attendance.
The event took place two days after the APC NWC dissolved the former state excos to pave the way for the ad hoc committee that will oversee the conduct of a congress to elect new state executive members.
The dissolution was announced at the party secretariat by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Wednesday.
Morka disclosed that Chief Tony Okocha was chosen as chairman and Eric Nwibani Secretary of the seven-man caretaker committee.
Other members include Chibuike Ikenga, Stephen Abolo, Silvester Vidin, Senibo Karibi Dan-Jumbo, and Miss Darling Amadi.
Addressing the newly sworn-in officers after the oath-taking, Ganduje asked them to prepare themselves for the arduous task of reconciling factions and members who had left the party.
The APC national chairman also charged them to use the six-month duration to create an enabling environment for the congress that will usher in leadership at all levels.
He said, “I want to congratulate the newly sworn-in members of the caretaker committee. I am sure you are fully aware that since 2015, the APC has been suffering some setbacks in the areas of conflicts, litigations, and counter-litigations that finally resulted in the loss of our great party in Rivers State.
“So, this new NWC has taken a look at the issues pertaining to the party both at national and individual state levels and decided to reform the party. There is no doubt we have members who have been with APC since inception. Some left the party. Some prominent chieftains who left the party even contested against us in another political party. They now wish to come back. Those who left to form factions are also ready to come back.
“You can see that there is no better time to rejig the party than now especially under a new state party leadership and we have confidence in you. Part of the reform system we have introduced includes electronic registration of our members and we request that you pay attention to the electronic registration of our members and do some work to spearhead the exercise.
“We expect you to constitute various committees to get more members into the party. That is the work you should do and we expect you to create an enabling environment so congresses could be conducted for the emergence of leadership at local government, state, and even senatorial levels.
There should be no discrimination because you are a product of unity.”
