The Action Peoples Party, APP, in Rivers State has refuted allegations made by a Labour Party chieftain, Prince Favor Reuben, claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is handpicking the party’s candidates for the upcoming October 5 local government elections.
Reuben, the South-South Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, made the accusation during a press briefing on Monday in Port Harcourt.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, APP urged Reuben to focus on preparing for the elections instead of engaging in baseless accusations.
The party’s state chairman, Sunny Wokekoro, dismissed Reuben’s claims as “childish” and “misinformed”.
He said, “In that statement, Reuben clearly showed a very deep lack of knowledge about how party administration is run. Ordinarily, one won’t respond to the gibberish or give him the publicity he is looking for.
“The issue of political party administration regarding their congresses and primaries is contained in each party’s constitution; every party has its modus operandi, and the Action Peoples Party is not exempted from that;
“We have done our primaries in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution, and we have gone beyond that.”
“Reuben and his paymaster, rather than showing gross ignorance of how a political party operates, should go and prepare for the election.”
“For the purported meeting that was held in the government house, I want journalists to ask that unknown figure if he was in that meeting and if he identified any party official of the Action Peoples Party as to allege that Governor Fubara was handpicking candidates for our party.”
“We have said it severally that Governor Siminilayi Fubara is not a member of our party and, as such, cannot handpick candidates for the party.
Wokekoro, stressed that Reuben has no locus standi to question the party’s internal affairs.
He assured that the APP remains focused and open to welcoming members from other political parties.
The APP state Chairman expressed confidence in the party’s ability to win in all local government areas in the upcoming election, adding that it is strictly adhering to the timetable set by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RESIEC), while accusing those following the directives of external influences of acting in ignorance.