Worried by the dwindling political influence which accounts for its control in one out of the six States that make up the South-South geographical zone of the Country, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has held a strategic political meeting in Calabar, the Cross River State ahead of Governorship Election that will be conducted in Edo State later this year.
The political meeting, which had in attendance all the Executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South Region and chaired by Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, centred its discussions on crucial political issues bothering the zone, especially the coming Edo State Governorship Election, pledging to work towards reclaiming the lost Edo back as part of APC ruling States.
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Governor Otu, who is the only South-South governor from the APC stock in the Region however lauded the leadership of party for being steadfast and focused, saying that political permutations and calculations which wrested the political power from the main opposition party – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – in Cross River State could be replicated in Edo State in order to reclaim the lost State from the PDP back to the fold of APC.
Speaking after the meeting held in Calabar at the weekend, Victor Gaidom, the APC Vice Chairman, South-South, said the meeting which was also attended by Chairmen of the party from all States within the zone resulted in a unanimous decision to work in synergy to strengthen the party in the zone, ensuring that the party emerge victorious in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election.
Gaidom said the meeting was highly successful with very fruitful discussions which included their agreement to work for the unity of the party across the South-South States.
“We are using this opportunity to issue a warning to other political parties in Edo State, letting them know that the APC is ready to collect back the governance of the State”, he said.
While commending Governor Otu’s style of governance in Cross River State, the APC South-South leaders said that the governor’s achievements in office were visible for all to see, especially in the areas of environment, infrastructural renewal, foundation laying for agriculture revolution, restoration of hope and human capital development.
Governor Otu, who was accompanied to the APC meeting by his Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, said he was happy to have hosted the Zonal Executives of the party, having been conferred with the responsibility of Zonal leadership,
“It is often said that to whom much is given, much is expected. We needed to come together to deepen the APC in the South-South. Today, Cross River State is the only APC State in the South-South, we want to increase that number before we go to the next general election”, the governor said.
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He emphasized that APC had come to stay in Cross River State and that his Administration keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government led by PresidentBolaTinubu, which he said, remains critical to the masses, as the ‘People First’ mantra of his Administration would be sustained.
“We will not relent in our efforts as a Government to offer the people confidence and prosperity in our programmes and policies”, he said.
BusinessDay repprts that among the State Chairmen who were in attendance at the APC Zonal meeting in Calabar, included Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Cross River State Chairman; Stephen Ntuk Ekpo, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State; Tony Okocha, Chairman, Rivers State, and Jarrett Tenebe; Chairman, Edo State.
