2027 election: APC stakeholders urge office seekers to declare aspirations at ward level

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, have urged political office seekers to declare their aspirations at their ward levels.

The resolution is coming at the heels of a strategic meeting convened to deliberate on issues affecting the party and its future electoral prospects, as it resolved to strengthen commitment to party unity.

The meeting, held on Tuesday at the Lokoja residence of Professor Usman Ogbo, brought together party leaders, elders and key stakeholders from across the local government area.

The meeting was aimed at strengthening internal cohesion within the party and establishing clear processes for aspiring candidates ahead of forthcoming political contests.

In his opening remarks, Muhammed Salihu Jibril, the APC chairman in Ankpa local government, commended members for honoring the invitation, describing the gathering as an important platform for frank discussions on issues affecting the party in Ankpa, adding that the meeting was convened to address matters of concern within the party and urged participants to approach the deliberations with a spirit of unity and collective responsibility.

“Whatever resolutions emerge from the meeting should ultimately strengthen harmony, cooperation and mutual understanding among party faithful”.

Also Mohammed Yahaya Ademu, chairman, Ankpa local government area, expressed appreciation to stakeholders for attending the meeting and described every attendee as a critical stakeholder in the APC, as he noted that the primary objective of the meeting was to promote peace, reconciliation and unity among members, stressing that past misunderstandings within the party should not be allowed to create divisions going forward.

Yahaya equally stated that the APC remains a broad-based political platform with supporters and stakeholders across the state, emphasizing that the party should never be taken for granted, as he urged party members and stakeholders to return to their respective wards and intensify grassroots mobilization in line with the directive of Ahmed Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi State.

Salish Ogbo Usman, the host, expressed concern that persistent internal disagreement and unhealthy rivalries among political actors had in the past slowed down the pace of development in the area.

Usman equally stressed the need for renewed unity among party faithful, noting that the issues that previously caused disunity had now been addressed and that stakeholders should collectively embrace a new path of cooperation and development, as he urged members to always prioritize the development of Ankpa local government area above personal interests, emphasizing that unity within the party would position APC to achieve greater electoral success.

Usman also appreciated Governor Ododo for prioritizing developmental interventions in Ankpa, particularly the ongoing erosion control efforts aimed at addressing severe environmental challenges threatening parts of the local government, noting that with unity and coordinated political efforts, the APC would be well positioned to secure victory in future elections, adding that the experiences of the 2019 and 2023 elections should serve as lessons for stakeholders.

Preparations for future electoral contests must begin early as he urged party members to begin mobilizing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo ahead of the 2027 elections.

Usman equally clarified that neither he nor party stakeholders have the authority to impose candidates, noting that the party will continue to be guided by democratic principles and grassroots participation, as he advised all interested aspirants to return to their wards and formally declare their political ambitions through their ward chairmen and leaders, who would subsequently communicate such declarations to the local government APC Chairman and relevant stakeholders.

He said, “The party must prioritize credible and electable candidates who possess the capacity to win elections and deliver effective representation and good governance to the people”.

Usman noted that victory for the APC would be a collective achievement that would benefit all party stakeholders and supporters, as he reminded members that the immediate political focus should be on the forthcoming National Assembly contests, particularly the House of Representatives and Senate elections, urging stakeholders to redouble their efforts for the contests.

Several speakers at the meeting also called for sustained unity, peace and cooperation among APC stalwarts in Ankpa local government area.

They emphasized the importance of projecting credible and sellable candidates who would be widely acceptable to the electorate and capable of delivering electoral victory for the party.