History was made on, 26th April, 2014, as the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) elected an Executive Committee (EXCO) to run the affairs of the party and usher in the next APC administration in the State in 2015.
The election which took place at the Civic Centre in Port Harcourt was held in a democratic set-up devoid of any electoral malpractices or violence. It was held under the watch of the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the APC Leader in Rivers and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, through his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru. The successful Congress was supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who until this morning was the State Interim Chairman of the party, emerged the first elected Chairman of APC in Rivers State unopposed, polling a whopping 1,619 votes from the 2,093 delegates. He was declared the winner by Chief Cosmos Made, the Congress Committee Chairman and Returning Officer.
Dr Ikanya a political juggernaut in Rivers State politics was the National Secretary of the defunct Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN)
and later the party’s gubernatorial candidate during the general election of 2007; an election in which Governor Amaechi was elected the Governor of Rivers State. He was appointed the Commissioner for Special Duties during the first term of Governor
Amaechi in 2008 and was the Chairman of the Forum of Opposition Political Parties (FOPP) in Rivers State, a forum he used to stabilize political setting in the state by ensuring that the opposition political parties worked with the then PDP ruling party under the watch and leadership of Governor Amaechi.
Chief Emeka Bekee, the immediate past Interim Secretary and a strong pillar in Governor Amaechi’s political camp polled 1,551 votes to emerge Secretary, while a seasoned Journalist and Publisher, Mr. Chris Finebone, was elected Publicity Secretary, with Alex Hart as Treasurer and Mr. Uku Dandison as Organising Secretary. Others in the 35-man EXCO include the Women Leader of the Interim Committee, Evangelist Carol Nagbo, was elected Women Leader, and Barr. S. Eli as Youth Leader
An elated Dr. Ikanya described his election as an act of God and thanked Governor Amaechi, stakeholders and members of the party for considering him worthy of such an honour. He promised not to disappoint and vowed to ensure that APC forms the next Government in the State next year.
Dr. Ikanya stated: “I sincerely thank God and the delegates for ensuring that I was elected against every other odd. Gov. Amaechi has demonstrated that he is a true democrat by allowing the votes of the delegates to count. APC and her members in Rivers State have shown a high sense of decorum, democratic acts, brotherhood and unity that need to be explored by other stakeholders in our polity for the survival of our nascent democracy. The party has been very fair to the contestants and I hope that they will assist to ensure that APC forms the next government come 2015 for the great future of our dear State. With this result and calibre of people elected to work with me, PDP can now go to sleep as we are determined to ensure the victory of APC come 2015 by the grace of God”.
Rivers APC Congress: Dr Ikanya Returns as Chairman
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