Democracy Day: Rivers APC faction says members killed at elections still waiting for justice

…Declares them true heroes of democracy

The leadership of the court-backed All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has declared members who were killed and maimed at elections since 2015 in the state the true heroes of Democracy.

In a message issued on June 12, 2026, Darlington Nwauju, spokesman of the Emeka Beke executive committee (EXCO), saluted ‘genuine members’ of the party who he said have endured different phases of intimidation, harassment, assault, injuries, economic losses and abuses for choosing to belong to the party.

“For all those who understand the deeper meanings of the story behind the June 12 struggle, we do very well understand that freedom comes by shouting, talking, demonstrating that civil liberties anywhere in the world deserve to be cherished, protected and preserved.

“Regrettably, between 2015 and 2023, we have lost some of our founding members to political violence and their families and loved ones are still waiting to get justice. “The Christopher Adube’s, Boris Neenwi’s, Edward Okechukwu’s, Franklin Obi’s, Chiosom Lennard’s, to mention a few. We consider these fallen members of our great party as true heroes of democracy in Nigeria.”

The statement said the struggle to engineer an APC presence in Rivers State did not just cost them sweat and blood but huge internal schisms sponsored by well-known political actors.

“We are however surprised at the duplicitous and unstable positions of some of those who led protestations and trumpeted internal democracy in the not too distant history of our party. Prominent exponents of the rule of law, fairness and internal democracy are now cheer-leading and dancing to the farts of strongmen over and above building stronger institutions.”

Nwauju is believed to be referring to some APC leaders who led protests and suffered teargas and near death but who now support the present leadership and ditch those who suffered with them.

Today, he said, “There are subsisting court rulings which have been bizarrely disregarded and former proponents of respect for the rule of law now comically pretend to be sleeping”.

He said the party’s chances stand the risk of being imperiled again due to disobedience to court rulings and like the “voice of one crying in the wilderness”, his team has kept raising their voices over the unpardonable display of arrogance and abuse of power.

Interestingly, he stated, “The working committee of the party at the national level has chosen to play the ostrich by burying its head in the sand. They actively support that judicial rulings become the punching bag of a few undemocratic elements who properly fit the role of overrated political bullies.

“This same APC in Rivers State lost its vibrant members for committing no crime except choosing to identify with this political party, but today, the blood of members has been exchanged for very unconvincing party realignments.

“We use this medium to render unreserved apologies for not fighting enough to give justice to the families of our fallen members and heroes of democracy in Rivers State.

“We call on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police, Olatunde Rilwan Disu, and DG DSS, Oluwatosin A. Ajayi, not to allow these dastardly acts of man’s inhumanity to man to be swept under the carpet.”

The statement made available to BusinessDay drew attention of some of Nigeria’s strategic foreign partners, Excellencies the Ambassadors to the situation in the Rivers APC family, demanding thorough investigations and prosecution of all sponsors of electoral violence and politically motivated killings in Rivers State.

Nwauju raised alarm, saying he was being targeted already probably for his uncompromising stance on justice and rule of law.

On the hand, the Tony Okocha group which is backed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his giant developmental strides in just three years have rekindled hope across Nigeria.

“From bold economic reforms that are stabilizing our economy, and strengthening the naira, to massive infrastructure renewal through the Renewed Hope Agenda, your leadership proves that democracy truly delivers when placed in the right hands.

“The Removal of Fuel Subsidy to free up funds for critical projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project, the Rehabilitation of Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Rail line Project, the Student Loan Scheme, and your commitment to food security just to mention a few, are already changing lives.

“For Rivers State specifically, we celebrate your fatherly commitment to peace and development.”

Gov Sim Fubara, on the day, saw it as renewing social contract with the people.

The National Civil Society Coalition on Oil, Gas and Mining Host Communities led by Lawrence reflected on democracy, resource justice, community security and inclusive development.

On June 12, the group said it remains a watershed in Nigeria’s search for democracy after many failed attempts since 1960. “That election marked a missed opportunity for true democracy because of the annulment. Looking back, we can see that it remains Nigeria’s best chance because it is the best election with a candidate most Nigerians craved for.

“For ordinary Nigerians, there is a craving for true democracy which they have not found because every election is declared by international and local observers as worse than the previous one as Nigeria walks away from true democracy marked by free and fair election.

Dube said extractive host communities around the country and in the Niger Delta continue to hope for true democracy that would make their votes count, starting with internal democracy to right to vote for one’s choice, virtues that have since departed from the land. “We call for return of true democracy where the people decide who governs them, not one where few persons or even one man decides who gets what in all the parties in some parts of the Niger Delta.

“Democracy Day should not just be about a celebration or the conduct of elections. For communities that host Nigeria’s oil, gas, and mineral resources, these realities are even more profound.”

In a broadcast on June 12, Gov m Fubara

reaffirmed that democracy remains the most effective system of government for Nigeria, given the country’s rich diversity of ethnic, religious, and cultural identities.

Reflecting further, the Governor said June 12 represents far more than a historic date; “It embodies the enduring struggle, sacrifice, and collective aspiration of Nigerians for freedom, justice, and representative governance.”

The Governor extended warm felicitations to Nigerians at home and across the Diaspora, paying tribute to the heroes and heroines of the democratic struggle, particularly MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, and countless others whose courage and sacrifices he said helped secure the democratic freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.

Gov Fubara noted thus: “Our democratic journey has not been without difficulties, but the resilience of our institutions and the determination of our people have kept the nation moving forward. The ability to express differing opinions, engage in constructive debate, and peacefully choose leaders through the ballot remains one of the greatest achievements of our nation.”

He reiterated the readiness of Rivers State to continue partnering with the Federal Government in advancing policies and programmes that improve the lives of citizens through infrastructure development, job creation, enhanced security, quality education, healthcare delivery, and good governance.

Many said the governor did not say a word about Rivers persons who have been killed since 2015 with police arrest nor prosecution and the call by the court-backed APC faction to probe the killings or pay compensation to the families.

They say this may be because the faction that is holding power both in the state and at the federal level is the winner of all the elections that led to those alleged deaths.