Abdullahi Ganduje, the newly appointed National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed his determination to ‘hit the ground running’ and spearhead efforts for the party’s success in the upcoming governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states.
This assurance was part of Ganduje’s acceptance speech as the party’s chair, as he emerged victorious during the 12th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Thursday.
The former governor of Kano state affirmed his readiness to commence immediate efforts to secure the ruling party’s victory in the governorship polls scheduled for November 11, 2023, in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa.
In another development, the party’s NEC elected Ajibola Basiru, the former Senate spokesman representing Osun State, to the position of National Secretary.
In his address to party leaders after being elected, Ganduje conveyed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and made a commitment to prioritize internal democracy during his term as party chair.
Among the top priorities stated by the ex-governor of Kano State were the establishment of a scientific register of party members and the diligent handling of election management and conflict resolution.
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He underscored the commitment to provide a level playing field for all party members during party primaries.
Ganduje reiterated his readiness to take immediate action, striving for the party’s success in the three forthcoming off-season governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa.
Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi are three of the eight states with off-season governorship elections due to past litigations and court judgements. Others are Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo.
In the general elections earlier this year, the APC won the presidential poll and 16 state governorship polls leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 10, the Labour Party (LP) with one state and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also with a state.
The APC selected Usman Ododo, a former Auditor General of Local Government in the state, as its candidate for the governorship poll in Kogi, scheduled for November 11, 2023.
In Bayelsa, the party is fielding the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, while incumbent Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, is throwing his hat into the ring for a second term in office.
Meanwhile, the APC chairman, Ganduje’s efforts were unable to secure a victory for his party in the March 18, 2023 governorship election. NNPP’s Yusuf Kabir, an ally of NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, emerged victorious, defeating Ganduje’s candidate, Nasir Gawuna.
Kabir emerged as the winner in the February 25 poll with 1,019,602 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Gawuna of the APC, who received 890,705 votes. Furthermore, the APC also suffered a defeat to the NNPP.