Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, Director General of the APC State Assembly Forum (ASAF), has declared his intention to contest the chairmanship of Bonny Local Government Area in the upcoming local elections.
Dagogo made the announcement during a visit to a founding member of the APC at the Presidential Villa on Thursday. He said the move followed repeated calls from stakeholders and members of President Tinubu’s 2023 Campaign Council.
Dagogo’s declaration comes amid tension within the APC in Rivers State. The Tony Okocha-led faction has reportedly aligned with the PDP to field joint candidates across the state’s 24 councils. The move follows legal uncertainty over Okocha’s status as the legitimate state chairman.
Meanwhile, the Emeka Beke-led faction visited APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, at the party’s national secretariat. Beke urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to recognize him as the party’s authentic leader in Rivers. He also announced the start of nomination form sales on Friday, confirming the APC’s full participation in the August 30 polls.
Fubara: Bonny Needs Fresh Leadership
Ambassador Fubara emphasized that the APC enjoys strong support in Bonny and should not surrender the council to the opposition. He said his ambition is rooted in a genuine desire to bring change to the area and break years of political stagnation.
“I’ve held consultations with stakeholders in Rivers and beyond. My goal is to reposition Bonny and push for meaningful development,” he said.
Fubara condemned the council’s lack of infrastructure despite its resource wealth. He blamed self-serving politicians for the underdevelopment and promised to reclaim Bonny for the people.
“The APC has come too far in Bonny to let our efforts go to waste. We’ve built strong grassroots support and are ready to win,” he added.
He also stated that the campaign aims to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, where he believes the party will deliver another win for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ambassador Dagogo is a long-time member of the APC. He previously contested for council and assembly seats in 2011, 2014, and 2019, all under the party’s platform.
