In a bid to consolidate its base ahead of the 2027 general election, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdulahi Ganduje yesterday inaugurated six governors to coordinate the party activities in all the country’s geo-political zones.
They include Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state for South-east; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, to oversee South-west; and the Governor of Cross Rivers state, Bassey Otu to be in charge of South-south.
Others are the Governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for North-Central; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state is to coordinate North-east; and Uba Sani of Kaduna state would take charge North-west.
While inaugurating the coordinators at APC national secretariat in Abuja, Ganduje said the six governors have the mandate to initiate periodic interface between the governors of the zones and the leadership of the party.
He said they are also mandated to liaise with the party to commence immediate process for genuine reconciliation of aggrieved party members in the z.ones.
The APC national chairman said the terms of references for coordinating governors include; coordinating the governors of the zones to always identify and participate more on the activities of the party.
Ganduje said they are to:”Mobilise Governors of the Zones to effectively and physically participate in party activities within and outside the zone.
“Consult with Governors of the Zones on issues that will further enhance the progress and unity of the Party within the zone. Assist the party on resource mobilization within the Zones. Participate in any other activity that may be assigned by the party.”
Responding on behalf of the governors, chairman of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Uzodimma said they would not fail the party in the task assigned to them.
Addressing journalists after the inauguration, Uzodinma said they will ensure an inclusive participation of all members of the party down to the grassroot.
“So, what we’re saying now is that we’re supporting the Federal Government; we’re going to help them to succeed in the implementation of their various policies to recover the nation’s economy.
“We’re indeed very glad with our party for this innovation, very innovative idea and they have involved us as drivers of the programme. I think we are happy at the new development and that’s what democracy is all about.
“In a partisan democracy, the party is supreme, and the government is controlled and managed by the party. That’s why the President of the country is the leader of our great party. And the advantage we have better than these mushroom parties is that we are the ruling party,” he said.
Meanwhile, APC leaders in the South East including the national vice chairman and state chairmen in the region have expressed confidence in Uzodimma to lead and coordinate the activities of the party in the region to further penetrate and consolidate political control of the region.
The APC state chairmen, who pledged loyalty and support to Uzodimma, commended the party’s national leadership for appointing him in recognition of his roles to make the APC which was hitherto unknown in the South East to now become a major and leading political platform in the region.
The APC leaders in a solidarity message signed by the national vice chairman (South East) Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu and Anambra State chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike on behalf of the five South East State chairmen on Wednesday asserted that Uzodimma was appointed to lead the party’s charge in the region as a result of “his acceptability and popularity which cut across the various segments of the population in the region”.
The Party leaders also emphasized that he was chosen because of his “deep understanding of the social and political nuances of the region and exceptional capacity for party mobilization”.
“We commend the national leadership of our great Party for appointing Governor Hope Uzodimma to lead our Party’s charge in the South East. It is clear that this is in recognition of Governor Uzodimma’s relentless roles in mobilizing support and building the APC which was hitherto unknown in the region to now become a major and leading political party in the region.
“Because of Governor Uzodimma’s exceptional capacity for political mobilization as well as his performance in office, other political parties are now dissolving into the APC in the South East.
“Already influential political leaders including former state governors, former ministers, ambassadors, national and state legislators, local government chairmen, counsellor as well as youth groups who were hitherto in other political parties are now pouring into the APC in the South East as a result of the leadership direction being provided by Governor Uzodimma with the support of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
“We are confident that with Governor Uzodimma officially leading the charge in the activities of the Party in the South East, the APC will be in governorship and legislative control of the five states of the region as well as produce an overwhelming majority of the seats from the region at the National Assembly in the next round of election”, the Statement said.
The Party leaders urged the other zonal co-ordinators to emulate Uzodimma so as to make the APC widely accepted in all the six zones and the entire country as a whole. “The Future of APC in Nigeria is now further strengthened and completely assured”.
