Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is poised to take over the leadership of the country and correct the wrongs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Engr. Ikuru said this last Saturday when he, alongside his wife, Dr Mina Ikuru, Interim State Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, amongst others, formally registered for the APC at Ikuru Town in Ward 5, Andoni Local Government Area of the state.
He stated that “I am fully registered. In case you are still in doubt. For those who are still in doubt as to where I stand, I have always said it that I will stand with my boss, Governor Amaechi, where he goes. I have now registered for the APC.
The deputy governor dismissed insinuations that the exercise was marred by violence and irregularities, urging everyone to exercise their right to associate and register with the party, calling on the opposition to desist from harassing and intimidating would-be members of the APC.
“It’s a matter of free choice. Some people will choose to be in APC, some may choose to be in some other parties and every Nigerian above the age of 18 should be able to have a free choice of which party to belong, where to be and who to vote for. No person has the right to stop anyone”, he said.
Engr. Ikuru, who performed the registration exercise in the presence of the state interim APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, the Chairman and Secretary, APC Registration Committee, Rivers State, Engr. Ebeitei Francis and Hon Josef Omorotionmwan, Vice Chairman, Andoni LGA, Hon Sampson Egop and the APC Secretary in the LGA, Hon Sylvanus Kingston said he was elated to be a full member of APC.
Speaking, Interim State Chairman of the APC, Chief Ikanya, congratulated the deputy Governor and his wife for formally registering for the APC, berating the PDP for allegedly sponsoring the mayhem that had disrupted the registration process in Degema, Obio/Akpor, Akuku-Toru, and some units in PHALGA, Etche, and Ogu/Bolo.
Also speaking, Chairman of the state APC Registration Committee, Engr. Ebeitei Francis, said the ongoing registration exercise signifies a change in Nigeria, a change in Rivers State and a change also in Africa”, adding that, “the APC is the only party that can take Nigeria from this level that we are to the Promised Land”.
The Vice Chairman, Andoni LGA, Hon. Sampson Egop, attributed the success recorded in Andoni to the people’s collective resolve to queue behind their illustrious sons like the deputy governor, the APC interim state chairman, the council Chairman, Mr. Orom Nte Ereforokuma, and the councilors.
He stressed that “these are illustrious sons of Andoni; people are aware of their works, there is no question of deceit here. So, the people are queuing behind them because they know them, they have been there for them over the years on the other side. Now that they have crossed over, they know that they are taking them to the Promised Land, that is why you are seeing the mass movement in Andoni”.
The deputy governor, accompanied by his wife, Mina, Chief Ikanya, Engr. Francis, Secretary of the party and former Chairman of Andoni LGA, Mr. Kingston Sylvanus, and other party chieftains, later inspected the registration units across Ward 5 and Ebukuma in Ward 4, Andoni LGA, where he described the exercise as “satisfactory”.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday in Lagos said it had extended the period for its ongoing nationwide membership registration till February 12.
The membership registration exercise, which began on Wednesday, was initially scheduled to end today.
In a statement signed by the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the extension was to accommodate many Nigerians who had turned out to register but could not do so.
“We have apparently underestimated the number of those who are eager and willing to participate actively in the change process by joining the APC.
“Even with one day to go in the original registration schedule, we have exceeded the number of members we set out to register.
“Many more have reached out to us to give them the opportunity to join the APC, hence our decision to extend the registration,” Mohammed said in the statement.
The party said it needed to ensure that the people who wanted to register as members were allowed to do so.
It urged all interested citizens who had not registered to utilise the opportunity offered by the extension to do so.
