- Abe, who left the APC for SDP in the build-up to the 2023 general elections, said he is back with the APC to enhance the good things President Bola Tinubu is doing in the country.
- Abe addressed concerns about potential power struggles within the APC and debunked speculations that his move would create political unrest in the Rivers APC.
All Progressives Congress (APC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) defector Senator Magnus Abe has stated that there will be no rift within the party over his decision.
Remember that Abe’s move to the SDP came after he failed to secure the APC ticket and there was a falling out between him and Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State.
Having served as the senatorial district representative for Rivers South East, Abe went on to become the SDP’s nominee for governor in the 2023 election.
He told journalists in Port-Harcourt that: “My message has been consistent that we all need to come together, work together to be able to harvest these expectations of our people.
“So, basically I called my people here today to intimate them on some of the ongoing issues and also to let them know that we are returning to the All Progressives Congress, to join other well meaning Nigerians to support the government of President Tinubu and do our own best to also make sure that Rivers people are able to be part of the development at the center and also carry the state along in what we are doing.”
Addressing concerns about potential power struggles within the party, Abe dismissed speculations that his move would create political unrest in the APC in the state.
He said he maintained a cordial relationship with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC in Rivers State, Tony Okocha.
“I believe that the responsibility of engendering peace in the party is that of all of us who are members of the party, regardless of whatever positions we hold or we don’t hold.
“Tony Okocha has been a member of our team as everybody knows. And if today he’s the Chairman of the party, by the decision of the national, so be it.
“But we’re not in the APC because of any particular individual. We are in the APC because we are founding members of this party, and we’re grassroots supporters of the president.
“And we believe that it is proper that we are in the party to continue to give that full support to the president’s developmental agenda.
“Tony Okocha has been part of our team, he is part of the APC in this state from its founding till today.
“By now everybody who is part of the APC should have learnt a thing as to how to make the party work.
“So, we’re coming in open minded, ready to work with everybody within the party.
“I believe that anybody who is sincerely interested in the progress of the APC, should all be ready to make the party work for everybody.“