The Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed Senator Magnus Abe’s return to the party from the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
Abe moved to the SDP to compete for governor of Rivers State in the 2023 general election after a disagreement with former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, after he was unable to secure the APC ticket.
Abe, who represented the Rivers South-East senatorial district, went on to become the SDP’s governorship contender in the 2023 election.
In response to the announcement of the former party stalwart’s return, Tony Okocha, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, said, “We welcome him with our full chest.” We will collaborate with him. I’ve said, and I’ll say it again, that what makes a party tick isn’t a single person; it’s a group of individuals. In other words, the more the merrier in politics.
“We grant that Magnus was at the founding of APC in Rivers State, and I can say that without any fear of contradiction. But whatever happened, we all know. We were on one part, against an intransigent government or leadership of the APC—an inept leadership in APC.
“But I didn’t think that the proper thing to do was to leave. So I remained. But he left, maybe to pursue an ambition, which we all saw him try to pursue under the SDP. I do not think that in present-day politics, one head is bigger than ten. I don’t think so.”