By Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has showcased its preparedness for the June 18 Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election through the inauguration of a 61 Man Campaign Council headed by the Kebbi State governor, Mohammed Atiku Bagudu.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, expressed joy that no one is challenging the outcome of the primary and gave a matching order to the Campaign Council to do their utmost best to ensure victory for the party in the election.
The National Chairman further said: “As we inaugurate this Committee, I have one thing in the marching order of this party and that is don’t come home crying, don’t come home crying. If there’s a crying, let them go let them go and cry for their principals, not us”.
According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari is at the beginning of his trip out of the presidential villa. He made no secret of it. He’s a man of honour, he seeks no extension, he made it public in this very hall that used to be our NEC hall. He said it that he has been elected for a second time. He is under oath as president to protect and preserve the Nigerian constitution.
The Nigerian constitution has given him two terms of four years each, he was starting his second term and at the end of it, he doesn’t intend to and doesn’t ask for anybody to ask for a third term or any elongation of tenure”.
He promised that they would try to do as much as possible, being guided by the rules of engagement for elections, observe every rule, and guideline while hoping that those responsible for overseeing the compliance will be fair arbiters, referees, and umpires as it is his hope and prayers that God will give them victory.
The National Organizing Secretary of the party, Muhammad Argungu, on his part, said, the party is commencing the last-mile journey to retaining the Government of Ekiti State under the direction, influence, and purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the all Progressives Congress (APC).
He recalled that the Party had conducted a rancor-free Governorship Primary Election which produced Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, as the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Candidate without any of the aspirants sustaining any sorts of action against his triumph at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal nor at any other court of law.
According to him, that President Muhammadu Buhari, assisted by the National, Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu the National Secretary Sen. Iyiola Omisore, His Excellency Kayode Fayemi and His Excellency Sen. Abubakar Bagudu presented the flag to the candidate, was an indication of the cherished democratic ethos of the Party’s determination to go into the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election and, any other Election with a united front that will ensure the party’s victory at the poll.
Argungu, noted that 6 more women had been added to the membership of the Council to specially represent the women’s wing as a deliberate policy of mainstreaming the inclusion of women and youth in whatever democratic undertaking as a party and exhibiting its commitment to respecting constitutionally defined internal process in its Primary Elections.
He affirmed that the youth of the party are respected and accorded due recognition because of their roles in the Party’s activities hence they have added more youths to the Campaign Council as a reflection of their philosophy of accomplishing the Party’s objectives through the contributions and energy of all identifiable stakeholders within the Party.
In his response, Governor Mohammed Bagudu, appreciated the party for giving them the opportunity to serve as members of the 2022 Ekiti gubernatorial Campaign Council, promising that just as it happened four years ago as opposition in Ekiti State, it will also again and reminded party members to be wary of the fact that one is only important when in power and should as such, utilise any opportunity positively.
He assured the NWC that they can win Ekiti state as in the last four years, Governor Kayode Fayemi has done a lot to ensure that Ekiti remains a progressive state, and optimistic that APC, will achieve success in Ekiti, Osun and the 2023 election.
Governor Bagudu, urged all members of the council to put in their best, sacrifice for the party especially as there are other primaries, leading to the General Election and the timetable is short.
Discussion about this post