Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has been commended by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his impressive performance in the just concluded Ondo State Governorship primary election where he served as chairman of the committee.

In a statement released made available to media organisations, Governor Ododo received the commendation while presenting the report of the Ondo state APC primary election committee to the party’s national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

Receiving the committee’s report from Governor Ododo, Dr. Ganduje congratulated the Governor for a job well done and noted that the party is proud of the performance of the Kogi State Governor for the conduct of the Ondo State Governorship primary election which he noted was the first national assignment of the Governor.

The APC national chairman praised the extraordinary leadership skill and impeccable manner the Kogi State Governor managed the Ondo State APC Governorship primary election, adding that the Collation of results from the 203 wards and the 18 Local Government areas of the state that was viewed live on national television was a rare display of transparency and integrity of the entire election process.

Earlier in his presentation, Governor Ododo thanked the APC National Working Committee for finding him and his committee members worthy of the all important national assignment.

The Governor stated that the committee’s report took cognizance of everything that transpired during the primary election and it contains recommendations that will enable the party to deal with the aftermath of the Ondo State Primary election and ensure that the APC goes into the November governorship election as a united party ready to retain power in Ondo State.

Governor Ododo was accompanied to the presentation of the report by the Secretary to the Committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Kogi State APC Chairman, Honourable Abdullahi Bello, House of Representative Member Representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Honourable Abdulrahim Egidi and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Deedat Ozigi Salami, and some of his senior aides.

– As Gov Aiyedatiwa pays ‘Thank You’ visit to party secretariat, gets rousing cheers from residents

Following his victory in last weekend’s primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Monday paid a ‘Thank You’ visit to the State Secretariat of the party in Akure.

Accompanied by some party leaders and a crowd of jubilant supporters, the Governor received cheers from residents as his motorcade made way to the party office.

The Governor was received by members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party led by the State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who said the visit was a sign of unity within the party.

Engr. Adetimehin said the Governor has shown leadership and has done the needful by coming to meet the SWC of the party after his victory in the primary election.

He said: “Primary election in APC is a family affair. We have elected our governorship candidate. Now that the primary is over, we must remain the same progressive family and we must all come together for the election in November.

“The last time the Governor was here, he came as an aspirant but today, he has come as the candidate of our party. Now that our candidate has emerged, all other aspirants and party leaders must join hands to support him for the success of the party in the November election.

“We have what it takes to win and we have a good candidate. Most of the leaders of the opposition parties are already planning to join our party. We must win in a landslide in November as a ruling party with credible candidate.”

While addressing the gathering, Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the leadership of the party for providing enabling environment for the conduct of a free and fair primary election that produced him as candidate.

The Governor said: “Primary has come and gone; all aspirants are winners. It was a family affair of a contest and we are all members of the same family. We now need to put our house in order for the battle ahead.”

The Governor also thanked all members of the various committees from the National Secretariat that conducted the election, as well as members of the party for their participation in the primary.

Governor Aiyedatiwa later unveiled his campaign headquarters located along Oba Adesida road in Akure.

…Says Former Transportation Minister is the Face of Good Politics, Still Committed to Serving Nigeria.

…. Explains why AMAECHI contested the 2023 APC Presidential Primary and his political future

“….Furthermore, Eze re-echoed that Amaechi remains a member of the APC, adding that the former Governor’s recent BBC interview where he restated his membership of the party confirms his consistent allegiance to the ruling party, contrary to rumors that he had since left the APC….”

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has dismissed as oblique allusion, arguments championed from a section of the media that after his loss to President Tinubu in the 2022 APC Presidential Primaries, former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi lapsed into an exhausted quietude, restraining himself from political engagements including intra-party concerns of the All Progressives Congress, which membership he still holds.

In a statement made available to the media, the erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), said the silent disposition of the former Rivers Governor especially over the hazy political atmosphere in Nigeria and particularly the deepening political turmoil in Rivers State triggered by the struggle to salvage her battered soul from the captivity of her captors does not mean backing down from partisan politics.

According to the APC Chief, “as a patriot and lover of Rivers State, the former Transportation Minister only commits himself to actions that will in each peculiar circumstance calm frayed nerves and offer some respite to those Nigerians who feel disappointed over the country’s failed leadership. And though he may appear silent, he remains strongly behind his people and is committed to doing anything that will offer the desired opportunity that would better the lot of men and women of his dear state and Nigeria in general.

It is a fact most undeniable that there is crisis in Rivers state and Wike and his cohorts have plotted to make the state ungovernable for Gov. Fubara and uninhabitable for Rivers people, but you do not expect a political model like Amaechi to begin to make media appearances and issue press statements. No one is happy that Wike is trying to distract the Governor by instigating former Assembly members against him. What Amaechi can offer is wise counsel from his wealth of experience when consulted and not media parleys. So that cannot be taken for shying away from the problem of the state at hand. Amaechi cannot be on the side of evil but always on the side of God and humanity – the people.

On where lies Rivers APC structure, Chief Eze hinted that Wike made efforts through one hollow-brained jobber, Tony Okocha with the help of some people at the helms of the party national leadership to usurp a congressionally elected executives at the state, LGA and ward levels but the scheme was resisted and now a subject of litigation and further comments on that may be prejudicial. So we await the court to determine that question. However, anyone parading as caretaker in the name of Rivers APC is on the frolics of his own.

Furthermore, Eze re-echoed that Amaechi remains a member of the APC, adding that the former Governor’s recent BBC interview where he restated his membership of the party confirms his consistent allegiance to the ruling party, contrary to rumors that he had since left the APC.

On the question why AMAECHI contested the 2023 Presidential election and his political future, Eze recalled Amaechi’s statement during his recent BBC interview on this, ”

” I didn’t even want to run for election ,I ran for election in the primary because I felt I had supported people who promised me that they would change the country but they didn’t change it. Buhari promised me that he would change the country , President Jonathan promised me that he would change the country, then I thought maybe something is wrong with me I am not seeing the change or maybe there is a problem, there is no change why don’t you go and try . So I am not saying Buhari changed the country or not or Jonathan changed the country or not ,I am saying by my own interpretation I felt something needed to be done so I put myself up there and the implication therefore is that even if I lost ,I would still serve the party and the country.”

Chief Eze called on Rivers people to continue to stand firmly behind Governor Fubara, assuring that the Governor mean so well for the state and her people and only their support can help him ward off evil forces from the camp of the adversaries and succeed in delivering democratic dividends to the state.