Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Okpara, has criticized Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for attempting to dominate the structures of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State. Okpara, who is also a prominent member of the PDP, made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on Sunday.
He praised Governor Siminalayi Fubara for successfully conducting the local government elections despite the withdrawal of both major parties, indicating a growing discontent among the electorate. Okpara questioned Wike’s motives, stating, “A man wants to control APC structure, he wants to be in control of PDP structure, in a state? How do you explain that?”
He further noted that the recent election results signify that the people of Rivers State are weary of oppression and are eager for genuine leadership, contrasting Fubara’s governance style with those of past leaders, whom he described as having authoritarian tendencies.
