The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has confirmed that former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Okey Chinda, is indeed a member of the party amid growing speculation over his alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and his participation in the party’s governorship screening process.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers State, Chibuike Ikenga, disclosed this while responding to questions surrounding Chinda’s entry into the Rivers governorship race under the APC platform.

Chinda’s emergence as an aspirant of the APC had sparked widespread reactions, especially as he was until recently a prominent figure in the PDP and served as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.

Addressing the controversy in an interview with DAILY POST, Ikenga stated categorically that Chinda had fulfilled the requirements for membership of the APC, stressing that the party’s constitution allows Nigerians to join at any time, including those seeking elective positions.

“He’s a member of the APC,” Ikenga said.

Explaining the process for late entrants into the party, the APC spokesman noted that aspirants who join the party close to an election period can apply for a waiver to enable them participate in the party’s activities like longstanding members.

Ikenga further explained that once such a waiver is granted by the appropriate authorities within the party, the aspirant becomes eligible to obtain nomination forms, undergo screening and participate fully in the process.

“Even if it’s three days, as soon as you get that waiver, you are at liberty to participate,” he added.

On whether Chinda had officially completed his membership registration, Ikenga said he was aware that the lawmaker had obtained his membership card, although he could not independently confirm if the waiver had already been approved by the APC national leadership.

“I’m aware. I have a copy of the membership card,” he stated.

He, however, maintained that Chinda’s participation in the screening exercise would ultimately indicate that the necessary approvals had been secured.

The APC spokesman also spoke on the “Rainbow Coalition” in Rivers State, describing it as a political alliance involving several parties and groups working together ahead of the elections.

According to him, the coalition includes members of the APC, PDP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, Labour Party and other political platforms, adding that political coalitions are not new in Nigeria’s democratic history.