The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Governor Siminilayi Fubara of Rivers to gauge his popularity by conducting local government elections in the state.

The call from the APC comes in response to the declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking at a press conference held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Tony Okocha, the Chairman of APC in Rivers State, questioned Governor Fubara’s actions, highlighting the extravagant spending on weekly thanksgiving services and urging him to prioritize governance over such events.

He challenged the governor to demonstrate his popularity by organizing local government elections.

His words: “When governors of states like Lagos and others are working, ours is holding weekly thanksgiving services. Each of those thanksgiving services gulped 150 million. What value has that added to us? You don’t use state funds to fund that kind of charade.

“Let him go and conduct local government elections. He should test the waters. He has been governor for quite some time now. That was one of the eight resolutions reached with the President.

“Why do they want to further insult Mr President and APC by telling him that he as leader of APC, appointed a kleptocrat into his cabinet as minister?

“When have they repented and withdrawn their suits in court, challenging the powers of Mr. President to mediate in the political crisis in Rivers State?

“Have they repented from emboldening Governor Fubara to disrespect Mr. President by refusing to implement all the indices on the 8~point Presidential Proclamation, as panacea to the political crisis in Rivers State, which by their actions, they have continued to fuel?”