The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has declared that two of its most prominent sons, former governors Rotimi Amaechi and Celestine Omehia, will be retired from active politics after the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made by Obinna Ekem, Director-General of the Ikwerre APC Campaign Organisation for the August 30 council polls, during the grand finale of the party’s rally in Omagwa on Sunday.
Ekem expressed confidence that the APC would secure victory across all 13 wards of Ikwerre in the forthcoming local government election, citing overwhelming support from residents. He said the local chapter was also preparing for 2027, assuring a decisive victory for President Bola Tinubu in spite of the opposition alliance spearheaded by Amaechi and Omehia.
According to him, Ikwerre remains firmly under APC control, despite being home to the two ex-governors, who now belong to the opposition coalition. He argued that Amaechi’s leadership of the APC years ago brought repeated defeats, but with his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party’s chances have significantly improved.
Ekem further urged President Tinubu to concentrate his political battles on national figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark, while assuring that the Ikwerre APC would “take care of” Amaechi and Omehia at the grassroots.
Also speaking at the rally, Rivers State APC Chairman, Tony Okocha, backed by the party’s national secretariat, called on Ikwerre residents to resist domination by any political party. He said the upcoming council election would be more credible than the October 2024 polls nullified by the Supreme Court after being conducted under suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.