Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that the party’s next goal was to seize Rivers State in the general election of 2027, following its conquest of Cross River State in 2019 and Edo State in 2024.
This was revealed by Ganduje on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he accompanied 16 members of the APC’s national working committee (NWC) in the inauguration of the newly elected state executives of the party in the state, who were led by Chief Tony Okocha.
In addition to maintaining internal democracy, he tasked the party’s recently elected state leaders with ensuring that efforts are made to recruit new members.
The APC national chairman said: “You are to ensure that there is internal democracy. You are to ensure that there are more entrants into the party. Use your political dexterity to ensure that our party is growing from strength to strength. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is peace and stability.
“You are of the South-South zone; you are aware that during the Buhari administration, we were able to take one state, Cross River. We were able to cross from PDP to APC. And during President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration, we were able to win squarely Edo State.
“Out of six, we have recovered two. So, since we have started with that, Rivers State is our target. Rivers State, we are here for you. Therefore, to win and bring Rivers State to APC is a task that must be done.”
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman of APC in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, assured the national leadership of the party that his team will work towards winning the state for the party in 2027.
Okocha said: “In league with my friends, members of the state executives council of the party and the teeming membership of APC in Rivers State, we assure you that in 2027, the story will be different. APC will take the rostrum there. The man who is the governor today in Rivers State has no party. Our constitution does not allow independent candidacy. APC will take the rostrum, we assure you.”
