South-South APC urges Diri, Fubara to dump PDP, adopts Tinubu as sole candidate

The South South zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Bayelsa Governor Duoye Diri and suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara to dump the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pitch tent with the ruling party.

It adopted President Bola Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The South South APC also adopted all its Governors in the zone as the party’s candidate in the 2027 governorship elections.

This was contained in a communique at the end of its zonal stakeholders meeting held in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Reading the communique before the well attended meeting, South South Vice Chairman of the party, Victor Giadom, commended President Tinubu for his reforms and policies to reposition the country.

According to the communique: “We commend Mr. President for his uncommon love and support for the South-South region, which is clearly reflected in the support for the emergence of Senate President for the region in the person of, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“We also take cognisance of the massive developmental projects in the region, including but not limited to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.

“We therefore unanimously pass a vote of confidence on our uncommon President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio, for his outstanding leadership, for uniting the South-South region, and for his support for the renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

“We welcome the Governors, stakeholders, and supporters of the South-South states for their patriotic and courageous decisions of embracing the renewed Home Agenda and joining the All Progressive Congress, APC.

“We therefore humbly call on the remaining two non-APC governors of the region, namely governors of Rivers State and Bayelsa State, and their supporters, to also join the Progressive family in the APC.

“Finally, we pass a vote of confidence on the four APC governors of the South-South region, namely Senator Bassey Edet Otu of Cross Rivers State; Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Pastor Eno Umoh of Akwa-Ibom State, and Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo State. And adopt them as our sole candidatesfor the 2027 elections

“We commend the party, we commend all the elected APC senators, members of the House of Representatives, ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the South-South, heads of MDAs, political appointees from the South-South region, for their loyalty to the party and for their support for the renewed Home Agenda.

“Further, we also recommend and commend the FCT Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, leaders of the South-South region, for his continued support for the President and the renewed Home Agenda. We sincerely appreciate all members of the party, stakeholders, and supporters in the South-South region for their continued support and dedication to the party.

“We hereby unanimously adopt Mr. President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as our sole candidate for the 2027 election. That is the decision of the South-South Zone of the All-Progressive Congress.”

The motion for the adoption of the communique read by Giadom was moved by Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and seconded by the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,

Governor Okpebholo expressed optimism that the meeting had the potential to unite not only the South-South geopolitical zone, but the entire nation.

Okpebholo said the South-South zone was gradually going back its foundation of integrated politics.

He said the achievements he has recorded would not have been possible if there were no responsible President behind him.

“President Tinubu is a man with uncommon wisdom and uncommon capacity. We are grateful to him.

APC Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori, said the South-South zone remained strategic to the nation’s development.

He called on the zone to be fully integrated into the party at the centre.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said, “South-South is the chicken, if you like, that lays the golden eggs. If we are the chicken that lays the golden eggs, we equally have the right to determine who shares the golden eggs that come from the south-South.

“Ahead of 2027, the South-South is speaking with one voice that we are with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu United. This is our mandate in the South-South”.