Former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Asukewe Ikoawaji, has described the current administration as “kindergarten” and sharply criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership for its silence during attempts to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Online, the elder statesman and member of the Rivers State Elders Council warned that the ruling party could lose the 2027 general elections if it fails to fulfill its promises to Nigerians.
“The APC has failed Nigerians in the same way the PDP did before the 2015 elections,” Ikoawaji said. “Back then, the PDP began wooing governors from other parties because it had lost public confidence. That is exactly what is happening now.”
He criticised the APC national leadership for maintaining what he described as a “studied silence” while lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly reportedly moved to impeach Governor Fubara, an APC member. “The governor is in the APC. The majority of local government chairmen and House of Assembly members are APC. At the national level, APC controls the Federal Government. So what is the national secretariat doing?” he asked.
Ikoawaji also faulted FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his role in the Rivers political crisis, describing his visits to local government areas alongside APC officials as early campaigns devoid of party symbols, a move he said highlighted poor leadership.
He added, “A hungry man cannot wait three years for the economy to stabilise. Where is the electricity that Nigerians were promised? Even the Presidential Villa does not rely on public power supply. How do you expect the ordinary man to enjoy it?”
Reflecting on his political experience, Ikoawaji stressed that Rivers people would resist weak leadership in the next election. “Mark my words: in 2027, Rivers State will not support a kindergarten governor,” he said.
The former ANPP leader also warned that the APC was repeating the mistakes of the PDP and urged party leaders to act decisively to restore public confidence and uphold governance standards.
