The All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign rally for the upcoming September 21st Local Government Elections has come to an end. This was as the party held the grand finale campaign rally on Thursday 19, September 2024, in Owerri, the State Capital.
The event, which drew huge supporters of the party across Nigeria and the 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State, and the political friends of the governor, was the talk of the town as it caused heavy traffic within some major roads leading to the Heroes Square’s venue.
The governor of the State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma (CON), arrived at the venue at about 3:40:05 P.m. with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by the immediate past governor of Kano State, His Excellency Umar Ganduje, and the National Chairman, APC.
As soon as they were seated, the tune of the National Anthem was raised by Felix Uba International Live Band and others joined. This was followed by an opening prayer and a welcome speech presented by the State Chairman of the party, Ebere MacDonald, PhD. He thanked the governor and Mr. President His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCRF) for their outstanding leadership at the State and Federal levels.
“Today is not a speech-making day. But I want to appreciate the governor of the State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, for his meritorious and meticulous leadership to our dear State and, importantly, for providing a level playing ground for everyone to thrive. APC is now the darling of the State. The demonstration in the last governor and general elections is a testament to the love you have for the party, which was borne out of the unwavering desires of the governor to see that Imo State is safe and prosperous. It was a proof of performance beyond television gimmick. A performance that we can all feel and touch both in infrastructure revolution and knowledge reproduction.
“I want to equally salute the doggedness of our National Working Committee led by a friend of the State, His Excellency Umar Ganduje, the President, and all members of our great party in ensuring that APC wins more seats.
To all the candidates that have emerged, I wish you all good luck in the polls”, he said.
The microphone was then given to the National Chairman for his speech. He thanked Uzodimma for the quality jobs he is doing in Imo State, especially on road infrastructure, education, health, and other basic social needs. He appreciates the organization of the APC Imo State, the campaign committee, candidates, and members of the party for making APC the cynosures of all parties. He charged the candidates to continue to ensure victories on Saturday, September 21st, 202,4 because he has traveled this route before now.
“I came here as a good friend of Imo State and to solidarize with my good friend, Senator Hope Uzodimma who is doing tremendously well in effective and transferrable governance, improving the quality of lives and showing empathy to his subjects.
At the Federal level, Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing well in improving the economy and raising the standard of infrastructure with his “Renewed Hope Agenda,” and Nigerians appreciate his good works.
“We have come to tell the people of Imo State that APC is the party to beat, and from this massive turnouts, the popularity of APC and your governor is not contestable.
I am one of you and have been on this journey before you. As the former Secretary of my Local Government, former AlGON Chairman, and former Local Government Commissioner, so you can now see that I am one of you.
As I hand over the flag of our great party to one of your representatives, I do so as the National Chairman. I want you to go out there and win the elections and replicate the ideals of the party in your LGAs and Ward. I wish you victories in the elections”. Ganduje concluded.
The National Chairman got a resounding ovation after his speech and officially performed the handing over of the flag to one of the chairmanship candidates who represented them before the podium was handed to the governor for his speech.
“I thank God for his special grace to me and all of us. Leadership is good but it is God that gives power and the wisdom to lead people. You see, the time for electioneering has been concluded today, and we cannot thank Mr. President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, enough for providing us the opportunity to serve. When the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave judgment in favor of Local Government Autonomy, we saw it as the way to go in other to rescue the local government administration system. We saw it as a ruling meant to improve and strengthen the Local Government administration for efficiency and economic results. We accepted it and quickly fixed a date for the election of LGAs and Ward Councilors elections will be held on Saturday, September 21st, 2024.
Sometimes in September last year, we had wanted to hold the LGA elections but felt that the security situation then may not guarantee elections of this magnitude. Today, we all can see that the coast is clear, and we are intentional about holding elections in all 27 LGAs and 305 INEC Wards in the State.
“The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Chief Dr. Charles Ejiogu, has reiterated his commitment to hold a credible, free, and fair elections on Saturday.
So, I use this time to challenge the opposition parties in the State to go out there and vote for their preferred candidates; that is what representative democracy entails.
For all those who have emerged, I want you to be magnanimous in victory to your brothers and sisters. To those who did not emerge, go back on your knees and pray to God so that next time will be your turn.
“Like I said all through this campaign period, out of 100 aspirants, just one person will be chosen as a candidate. It did not call for war or tearing the party apart.
In the spirit of understanding, particularly taking into cognizance the present economy, I have pleaded with the National Working Committee of our party, the State SWC, to refund only the principal money spent on buying Expression and Nomination Forms.
“This is the first time in our political history and democracy that a man will gamble and lose and his money will be returned to him.
For those that did not emerge, there will be means of compensating them through appointments or party positions.
APC Imo State is one family, and Imo State has seen the good work we are doing, which is why they massively voted for d for us again. I know they will do the same thing to you. We have another assignment with our brothers and sisters in Edo State. I wish you good luck.”
The campaign rally was a star politically studded outing and leading the pack from the Governor APC governor’s forum is His Excellency, Bioudion Oyebanji, Ekiti State Governor, Her Excellency, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, Deputy Governor, Imo State, Imo State Members of the National Assembly is Senator Tony Ndubuisi, House of the Representatives is Rt. Hon. Miriam Onuoha, members of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, State Commissioner, Barr. Nnamdi Anayaehe, Chief of Staff, Federal Commissioner, Hon. Kyrian Uchegbu PhD, Honorable Commissioner of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
