All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South zone yesterday rose from its zonal stakeholders meeting in Benin City, the Edo State capital, with a resolution to endorse President Bola Tinubu as the zone’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Besides, the party also adopted the four governors of the party in the South-South as sole candidates in the 2027 governorship elections in the four states.
The four governors include Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, who doubles as the South-South APC coordinator and Monday Okpebholo of Edo State whose election for second term will come in 2028 having be elected governor in 2027 in an off-season election that took place on September 21, 2024.
The two other governors those of Delta and Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori and Umo Bassey Eno respectively, who joined the APC from the PDP a few months ago.
Welcoming the delegates to the meeting which was held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State noted that the meeting and the decision that would be taken had the potential to unite not only the South-South geopolitical zone, but the entire nation.
Okpebholo, who noted that the South-South had always spoken with one voice during critical moments, added that the zone was gradually going back to its foundation of integrated politics.
He urged the remaining two governors in the zone to come on board the APC ship so that the South-South would be united and speak with one voice.
His counterparts from Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States also spoke in like manner.
APC’s acting national chairman, Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori, who said he was performing his first official duty since he assumed office penultimate Friday, called for unity of purpose.
Dalori reiterated that the South-South remained strategic to the nation’s development, hence the need for the zone to be fully integrated into the party at the centre.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who doubles as the APC leader in the zone, said the South-South geopolitical zone “is the heartbeat of the nation’s economy.”
“South-South is the chicken, if you like, that lays the golden eggs. If we are the chicken that lays the golden eggs, we equally have the right to determine who shares the golden eggs that come from the south-South.
“Ahead of 2027, the South-South is speaking with one voice that we are with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu united. This is our mandate in the South-South”, Senator Akpabio reiterated.
The communique containing the resolutions was read by Chief Victor Giadom, APC national vice chairman, South-South, and the motion for its adoption was moved by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and seconded by the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio presiding.
