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By Godwin Chukwumaechi
The African Action Congress, AAC, on Wednesday joined about five other political parties that would be presenting candidates for the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State.
The party during its primaries chose Tekene Iyagba to fly its flag as governorship candidate in next year’s governorship election.
Iyagba was one of the riverine-Ijaw governorship aspirants who rejected the Rivers All Progressives Congress’ consensus arrangement, which eventually produced Tonye Cole as the candidate of the APC for the election.
In a primary election organised by the AAC in Port Harcourt, Iyagba emerged as consensus candidate, with a promise to give dissatisfied people of the state an alternative candidate to Brick House in the coming governorship election.
The party also adopted Kingsley Dimkpa as candidate for Tai constituency in the state House of Assembly and Giadom Roy for Gokana state constituency.
Speaking after picking the governorship primaries, Iyagba said he was tired like most people in the state with what was happening and looks forward to a government that would recognise the people as well as work for their good.
Explaining his decision to leave the APC, he said, “I actually was with the APC but I decided to change my mind with the APC when the consensus matter came and I waited to observe if we will probably have a free and fair primaries, and from everything that was going on it didn’t see like it was going to be free and fair so I decided that I want to go somewhere else where I will have a free and fair election”.
He added that he decided to avoid a party where one person determines what goes on, saying “one person can control the PDP, one person can control the APC but one person cannot control the entire Rivers votes. So I decided to go where I can get free and fair primaries and be able to be at the ballots for Rivers people to decide”.
On his chances with AAC considering its size, he said; “big party or no big party, it is the people that created this. So the same people that made APC big, the same people that made PDP big are the same people that will make AAC big. So I believe that it’s the people that make the party and not the party the people.
“Those same people who are tired of everything that is happening in the state, they are tired of APC, they tired of PDP, they want someone different, they want a fresh face and I believe that by the grace of God they will hear my manifesto, they will hear what I intend to do for Rivers State and they will decide”.
He said his main priority was the security of the state stressing; “no manifesto can come into effect without the challenge which is most important in the state which is security. Everyone is running from Rivers State, and is closing because of security.
“So that is my first target, which is community policing, trainings. I have a lot to offer in that area. First secure the state, then we begin to talk about industrialisation creating jobs, empowerment. We are in a state where things are hard for everyone why because people are completely dependent on contracts, government.
“People don’t have money to start their businesses even though they have lovely ideas. I’m more an empowerment person who wants to empower Nigerians because once you empower Nigerians and help them to stand on their feet; first of all you are able to reduce crimes. Industrialisation will reduce crimes. So I intend to touch every aspect of governance, not just particular areas”.
In his own speech, the state chairman of the AAC, Hon. Victor Hart, noted that with Iyagba’s “capacity the party would be taking over the Brick House.”
He urged party members to ensure they acquired their Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, noting it is the only instrument they require to meet their target.
He thanked God for making it possible for them to produce a governorship candidate in Rivers and party faithful for their cooperation with the leadership to conduct successful primaries.