The former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has admitted to rigging local council elections during the administration of ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Okocha, who served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff between 2007 and 2015, made this revelation during an interview on Channels TV.
Okocha stated that he should be regarded as a whistleblower for exposing the rigging, rather than facing legal consequences. "On the issue of whether I rigged the election, I did not hide it. I should be praised as a whistleblower," he declared. Despite his public admission, Okocha dismissed concerns about potential prosecution, comparing his case to an armed robber confessing after the fact.
During the interview, Okocha also accused Emeka Beke, the newly reinstated APC chairman in Rivers State, of being involved in the same election manipulation. He claimed, "All of us were together, including Emeka Beke." However, Beke, who was present on the program, denied any involvement in the rigging, stating, "During the election, was I part of it? I did not follow you to the election." He further accused Okocha of attempting to implicate him, adding, "You rigged the election, and we are going to ask the police to arrest you."
Okocha’s confession has sparked significant controversy, particularly given his assertion that the disclosure was meant to prevent further electoral manipulation. He explained his reasoning by saying, "When you see the other person using tactics you already know, you will shout."
This revelation comes amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State. Okocha was recently removed as the chairman of the APC Rivers Caretaker Committee and replaced by Emeka Beke, a development that has added another layer to the already heated political landscape.
