About 100,000 non-indigenes in Rivers State have registered as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, has disclosed.

Eze said the information was given this weekend by Alhaji Yusuf Tanko, Chairman of the Registration Committee of the Non Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF) of Rivers APC, during a meeting of the Forum held at the State APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt.

He quoted Alhaji Tanko as saying while submitting a preliminary report of the work done by his committee during the recent APC nationwide membership registration exercise: “Our target was to register about 800,000 non-indigenes but due to the attacks on members by PDP hoodlums we could only mobilise about 100,000 non-indigenes who are genuine members of APC today. With this number we are capable of mobilising the 1.6m non indigenes voters in Rivers State for any election in favour of APC candidates any day, anytime. I commend and congratulate my colleagues particularly Chief Uchenna Okokoba, the NIPF Coordinator, who was on our neck to ensure that the required result is achieved. Of course, greater thanks go to Barr. Chuma Chinye, Leader of NIPF and the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, who ensured that all the relevant logistics were made available to us.”

Eze in a statement issued this afternoon in Port Harcourt also quoted Barr. Chinye as commending the committee for its achievement. He said the commissioner assured the new APC members that they have made the right decision, stating that all non-indigenes in Rivers State can be assured that the APC administration come 2015 will give them all the necessary support to succeed in their various endeavours in the state.

“Let me reiterate that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, apart from being very supportive is interested in all that we are doing as he has assured us of his commitment to carry us along; so we need to unite and ensure that an APC administration is installed in Rivers State come 2015 and totally reject PDP as the party has declared war on Rivers State and those living in the state, including our members besides Gov. Amaechi has proved that he is a nationalist who is committed to ensure the security and welfare of all Nigerians residing in Rivers State,” Barr. Chinye reportedly said.

The statement said that after brainstorming on the way forward, the meeting mandated the NIPF leadership to begin mobilisation for the 2015 elections by undertaking a tour of all state’s chapters to ensure that members of the Forum participate actively in the party congresses expected to start later this month.

Eze said that apart from himself, other NIPF leaders present at the meeting included Chief Ade Adeogun, Chairman of Rivers State Sanitation Commission, and Mr. David Iyofor, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Amaechi.

•Photo shows Barr. Chuma Chinye, Leader of NIPF and the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.

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