… strategise for successful Guber polls in Edo State
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu and prominent government and other officials of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the South-South region have raised their voices in a collective call for support for the government of President Bola Tinubu.
This call for support and advocacy were among the key decisions made at the conclusion of a one-day APC Zonal meeting in Calabar on Sunday.
In a statement read during the meeting by the Zonal Vice Chairman of the party, Hon. Chief Victor Giadom, the APC stakeholders also expressed their confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
They also highlighted his strategic decisions aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s economy and instilling hope among its people and investors.
Furthermore, the stakeholders expressed their commitment to bolstering the APC’s influence in the South-South region, starting with victory in the upcoming governorship election slated for September this year in Edo state.
“It is imperative for the APC to regain control of the government in Edo State and to expand its membership within the region to provide unwavering support to President Tinubu, both presently and during the 2027 general election when he seeks re-election for a second term,” the communique stated.
Governor Bassey Otu was appointed as the coordinator of the APC in the zone, tasked with leading reconciliation efforts to reunite disaffected members.
Governor Bassey Otu emphasised the importance of attracting more states to the APC to create a more cohesive political environment within the party.
He advocated for increased federal appointments, particularly to reward dedicated party members, alongside ongoing projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He asserted that Edo State would not be exempt from the onslaught, leveraging the winning strategy encapsulated in the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the Tinubu-led administration.
He recognized that the success achieved in the Imo State gubernatorial polls could be replicated in Edo State.
Praising President Tinubu for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Otu also emphasised that such infrastructural development would enhance socio-economic ties between the South-West and South-South regions of Nigeria.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, expressed gratitude for the South-South region’s role in the current political landscape.
He also acknowledged President Tinubu’s commitment to the zone, notably through the initiation of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project.
Akpabio described the zonal meeting as an occasion to celebrate the significant contributions of APC stakeholders in the South-South to the emergence of the Tinubu-led administration.
He credited the return of the Senate President’s position to the zone after 45 years, to their dedication and resolve to effect positive change in the nation.
He viewed his Senate Presidency as an opportunity to further integrate the region with the central government, urging party members in the South-South to continue supporting the administration and strive to expand the party’s influence throughout the zone.
Akpabio, who also expressed optimism about the APC’s prospects in the South-South, said that a second governor from the region would emerge following the party’s anticipated victory in the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election.
He disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the commencement of work on the Calabar section of the six-lane Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
Akpabio also announced plans for himself and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to launch the project in Calabar in two weeks.
Notable figures who attended the meeting included federal cabinet ministers Festus Keyamo and Ekperikpe Ekpo, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, APC’s gubernatorial candidate in Edo State Senator Monday Okpebholo as well as party executives from all states in the region.