*Akpabio, South-South Govs Vow Tinubu’s Re-election
*Giadom Retains Zonal Chair
From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) adoption of the consensus mode of electing its officials as the best way of fostering unity and consolidating the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Senator Diri stated this on Wednesday at the APC South-South Zonal Congress held at Asaba, Delta State.
The Bayelsa governor expressed satisfaction that politically, the South-South region now speaks with one voice under the APC, stressing the need for the region to be part of the decion-making process at the national level.
Diri, who is chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, recalled that when he contested for the governorship in 2019, the delegate election process for primaries in the political parties made the exercise rancorous.
He said the slogan then was that without delegates, there will be no governor, noting however that today, that had changed to consensus building.
His words: “I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone. In this region politically, the South-South now speaks with one voice. This is important because of the strategic nature of the zone.
“If you are not on the sharing table, in terms of decision-making process, you will be left behind. We need to be united that we will not allow petty divisions among us.
“Let us work together for the unity and protection of APC in the South-South and God willing, all our candidates will come out tops in the 2027 elections. There cannot be anything better than a united family.
“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu for his remarkable achievements so far. Political events such as elective congresses like this were usually filled with rancour and violence. But, today, we have adopted the consensus model to produce our party executives from the wards to the regional level.”
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, commended the outgone national vice chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, for working relentlessly to woo all the governors of the region into the party.
Senator Akpabio expressed excitement that Governor Diri joined the APC, stating that he was an admirer of the Bayelsa governor due to his gentle mien.
“The governors of the South-South zone coming together in the APC was made possible by Chief Giadom. I congratulate you and your team for what you have done. Now that we are complete and focused, we will be the geo-political zone in Nigeria that will turn out the highest votes in 2027 for President Tinubu.
“In the last 46 years or so, our region had not produced a senate president. But under President Tinubu, the South-South region is recognised. We thank the president for giving the South-South a senate president.”
In their goodwill messages, the host governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his counterparts of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River all spoke on unity of purpose to be able to re-elect President Tinubu for a second term.
All the governors in their remarks vowed to work for the president’s re-election.
Chief Victor Giadom was returned as the party’s zonal chairman alongside seven other zonal executives of the party.
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, moved the motion for dissolution of the immediate zone executive and the motion was seconded by his Bayelsa counterpart, Abraham Ingobere.
In his remarks, Giadom said the gathering of the six governors of the region, lawmakers, ministers and other major stakeholders was an indication of the zone’s commitment to return all APC candidates in next year’s poll.
