The Nationwide Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has mentioned the occasion’s goal is to seize Rivers State in 2027.
Ganduje said this whereas inaugurating the newly elected govt committee of the occasion within the state, led by Chief Tony Okocha in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday.
He mentioned although the South-South geo-political zone is basically managed by the Peoples Democratic Occasion, the APC is making inroads within the zone, with Cross River and Edo states already taken by the ruling occasion.
Whereas congratulating the newly elected state govt members, Ganduje mentioned, “Historically in APC, the inauguration of a state chapter is often executed on the headquarters of the APC in Abuja.
“However as a part of the modifications that we’re introducing, we determined to inaugurate these elected committee members right here in Rivers State in order that our occasion is rooted to the grassroots. In order that there isn’t any dichotomy between the nationwide govt and the state exco.”
He emphasised that the occasion will proceed to work collectively in any respect ranges, including that the APC nationwide management is prepared to carry out capabilities for its fold even on the ward ranges.
Ganduje added, ” Due to this fact the state is our constituency. We have to embrace the state. We must be involved with the state. We must be in concord with the state. We have to synergise with the state and we must be in love with the state. That’s the reason we’re right here.”
To the brand new Rivers State exco, he mentioned, “As members and leaders of our occasion within the state, you recognize your primary obligations, your capabilities as spelt out by the structure of our nice occasion.
“You need to guarantee that there’s inner democracy. You’re to make sure that you search for new entrants into the occasion and search for members into the occasion.
“Use your political dexterity to make sure that our occasion strikes from power to power in your constituencies. It’s completely mandatory.”
Ganduje who led 16 members of the occasion’s Nationwide Working Committee to Rivers State urged the 36-member Okocha-led govt to make sure that there’s peace inside the occasion ranks within the state.
He continued, “You should guarantee an efficient battle decision mechanism. As leaders of the occasion, I imagine you might be equal to the duty. You’re from the South-South geo-political zone the place the zone was dominated by the PDP.
“However you might be absolutely conscious that in the course of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, we had been in a position to take one state, Cross River from the PDP to the APC. And now below President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we had been in a position to win Edo State squarely.
“Out of the six states within the zone (South-South), now we have recovered two. Rivers State is our goal. Rivers State we’re right here for you. Rivers State you might be on the best way.
“Due to this fact I say to you (the brand new state exco) to carry Rivers State to APC is a job that should be executed. With these few remarks, I formally inaugurate the APC State Government Committee.”
Earlier the APC Nationwide Authorized Adviser, Prof. Abdul Kareem Kana, SAN, administered the oath of allegiance and oath of workplace on the brand new state govt after they had been referred to as out by the occasion”s Deputy Nationwide Chairman, South-South, Chief Victor Giadom.
Talking after his inauguration, the State APC Chairman, Okocha, mentioned the occasion is united within the state and expresses confidence that they may take over the Rivers authorities Home come 2027.
Okocha said, “We’re one united occasion in Rivers State. You (referring to the nationwide management) already know that the opponent on the opposite facet is defeated already.
“As a political occasion what we guarantee you is that every one the foundations which might be akin to a political occasion this opposition occasion is with it and we will exhaust it.
“Our enterprise is to not clap arms for the federal government in energy, however our enterprise is to de-market them and we ship this instruction to them that the 2027 APC flag shall be erected in Authorities Home in Rivers State.”
Whereas assuring all that he’ll proceed to evangelise peace within the occasion, he urged members who’re nonetheless pursuing litigation to show over a brand new leaf and return to the fold.
“Let me use this chance to advise a couple of of our members who’re operating around the courts, that we attraction to them that there’s nothing else to problem in courts.
“I didn’t see the facility of the courts that’s superior to the occasion. We’re all the time informed that the occasion is supreme. No different particular person than the Nationwide Chairman himself and the 16 members of the Nationwide Working Committee of the occasion have come to Rivers State to inaugurate us.
“I need to use this medium to encourage them to return again to the occasion. We’re a celebration crew we must be collectively. I imagine that in occasion formation the extra the merrier. Allow us to all come again collectively”, he added.