The National Working Committee, NWC, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Wednesday, named a loyalists of the former Governor of Rivers State and the Minister of FCT, Nyesome Wike, Chief Tony Okocha, as the caretaker chairman of the Party in Rivers State.

The constitution of the caretaker committee followed the dissolution of the Rivers State executive committees of the party at all levels.

Though they are of different parties, Wike has been battling for the control of Rivers with his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, with Wike seeming to have things going his way of late.

Amaechi contested the presidential primary with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the president has since been working with Wike, though of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the NWC meeting on Wednesday night in Abuja, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, said the caretaker committee would be chaired by Okocha, with Chief Eric Nwibani as secretary.

Other members of the caretaker committee to be inaugurated on Friday are Hon. Chibuike Ikenga, Prince Stephen Abolo, Hon. Silvester Vidin, Senibo Karibi Dan-Jumbo and Miss Darling Amadi.

Okocha is an ardent supporter and political ally of Wike.

Okocha recently led a delegation of Wike’s loyalists on a courtesy visit to the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Abuja, where he accused Amaechi of working against Tinubu in the last election.

He also demanded Tinubu not to appoint Amaechi’s loyalists into various positions in the current government, but that Wike should be reached directly.

Morka explained that the caretaker committee is mandated to conduct a comprehensive and fresh electronic party registration of all members in the state.

“The caretaker committee subject to the directives of the NWC was entrusted with preparing for the conduct of congresses to facilitate the emergence of new executive committees for the party at various levels, extending from the ward to the state,” he added.

The APC spokesman said the caretaker committee has six months to deliver on its mandate.