Guber Poll: Akpabio, Giadom, Otu Vow to Reclaim Edo State From PDP
By Ndifereke BASSEY
The All Progressives Congress (APC) South South is set for battle with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the ruling party has vowed to reclaim Edo state.
Speaking at the APC South South zonal executive committee meeting on Sunday in Calabar, Cross River, the party leaders including Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio, National Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, and Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River state said this is the auspicious time to take back Edo from the opposition party in September 2024 governorship election.
In his opening remarks, the National Vice Chairman, Victor Giadom, said: "APC has no justification not to win the September 21 governorship election in Edo.
"The party "must reclaim" the state (Edo) to increase the state APC has control over in the South South region."
The South South Chairman lamented that although the party is in deficit in the region as it currently governs only one state in the region, but that is one of essence of this meeting to deepen consultations and deliberations on how to unite its members in the region.
While commending President Bola Tinubu for his developmental effort in South South, Giadom said that the region will continue to support the Renew Hope agenda of President.
"As you are aware the Party at the zonal level is among others charged with the responsibility of initiating and deepening consultation and conversations amongst party members.
"To promote party unity, deepen leadership consensus, identify current and emerging challenges, proffer solutions and mainstream development issues of the South-South zone into the Renewed Hope Agenda.
"In spite of this impactful projects such as the Lagos- Calabar coastal road, the building of the Onne axis of the East-West road among others; our Party suffers a political deficit in respect of its control of only one state in the region.
"This is a situation that calls for consistent consultation as we have today; and let me assure our Party members and Distinguished Leaders of the South-South zone that this consultations will remain until we win over the other states in the," he stated.
Assuring APC governorship candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, of the support of the party members from the zone, the Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said the "days of loneliness" of Governor of Cross River, Sen. Bassey Otu, will soon be over.
"We must head to Edo with everything we have to defeat Obaseki. The zone can't wait to add a brother to Cross River governor. But, we must all be committed to the ideals and goals of the party. We don't need to be friends to work together," he stated.
Paying a glowing tribute to the former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, said: "We must indeed commend President Tinubu that after 45 years, the region has again occupied the seat of Senate President."
On his part, Gov. Bassey Otu said: "Edo cannot escape the onslaught of the winning strategy of the APC. The President has proven to be a friend of the region.
