Leaders and stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lokoja Local Government Area, have resolved to do all that they can to ensure the party achieves overwhelming victory in the November 11 gubernatorial election in the state.
To this end, they have called on party loyalists and supporters to bury their hatchets and commit themselves to the party’s cause and work for the victory of Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo during the election.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of an expanded stakeholders meeting which held on Saturday at the APC Secretariat in Lokoja.
The Communique was signed by the Chairman of the Meeting’s Communique Drafting Committee, Yabagi Mohammed and Secretary, Comrade Ibrahim Nuhu.
According to the document, party leaders in Lokoja Local Government would no longer tolerate past occurrences that have balkanised the APC because those who laboured for the party were not rewarded, assuring that those who work this time would be given priority in political opportunities.
The Communique noted that it is in the best interest of the people of Lokoja Local Government and Kogi West in general to work for the candidature of Ododo/Oyibo as it is the best way for the senatorial district to clinch the state governorship at the end of Ododo’s tenure.
It warned those who are fond of engaging in anti-party activities to desist forthwith, so that APC can put up a united front to ensure total victory for the party.
The resolution further urged members and leaders of the APC return to their various units and wards to ensure Door-to-Door Campaign that would culminate in landslide victory for the party in November, stressing that grassroots mobilisation would come handy for the party during the election.
According to the Communique, all elected officials in the party must ensure they carry women and youth along in their appointment and empowerment programmes to encourage that demographic which has been the energy base of the party.
It further urged existing members of the party to be open to accepting converts into the party from other political persuasions and not be threatened when people begin to align with the APC as opportunities abound for anyone that labours for an APC victory.
The Communique noted that come November 11, Lokoja Local Government APC would be a reference point for other LGAs as it would ensure it gives the party highest number of votes in the history of the state.
Present at the meeting were elected and appointed official across arms of government, including the member of National Assembly representing Lokoja/Kogi (Kotonkarfe) Federal Constituency, Hon Suleiman Aguye; the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf; the member representing Lokoja I State Constituency, Hon Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijjani; the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Umar Buba Kabir; and the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Hon Dab’Asabe Muhammed.
Also present at the meeting was the State APC Youth Leader, Hon Mohammed Mohammed, former members of the state House of Assembly, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and other party big wigs and supporters.