As the new party executives emerged from the APC State Congress, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has urged the elected officials to redouble efforts in taking the party to victory and show respect to members of the party.
Governor Bagudu has also mandated the new party executives under the new State Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Muhammed Kana Zuru and 35 others to reach out to aggrieved members with a view to ensuring the cohesiveness of the party in the state.
The APC Progressive Governors'Forum Chairman made the appeal this Saturday at the APC State Congress held at Haliru Abdu Stadium, Birnin Kebbi where delegates from the 21 local government areas of the state gathered to elect new leaders through concensus.
Gov Bagudu in his speech said electoral process is not without rancour but he as the governor and leader of the party in kebbi state tendered his apologies to those who might have been offended.
He said the state executives of the party elected through consensus were drawn from the 21 local govt areas of the state and were affirmed by the party members before the national officials of the party from Abuja.
' Reach out to the aggrieved members of the party, in that way APC will prosper more , win more elections and deliver dividends of democracy to the people ', he averred.
The governor explained that President Buhari has always given an advice to them to be strategic in their polical dealings and that has earned the party more respect and accounted for the gale of defections to APC from other parties across the Nationwide.
Senator Ibn Bala Na'Allah representing Kebbi South at the Senate who was the Chairman of main committee for the State Congress of APC said they made sure the screening process was in consonance with APC constitution before proceeding to the venue where the state officials were elected through consensus and were confirmed by national officials of APC.
The Senator urged them to be loyal to the party and those elected to remain dedicated to the service of the party and leaders of the State.
NaAllah reminded them that only God gives power to whom he wishes and enjoined the party delegates and party supporters to conduct themselves in away that will reflect the good image of the state.
' All the local govt delegates are here and they already know the method we are going to use because it is the easiest way ' he averred.
Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the head of the Committee send by the national Secretariat of the party , Abuja to supervise the congress, asserted that Kebbi APC is unique in the manner it always conduct its elections, in orderly and peaceful manner.
He told the gathering that newly elected state officials are crucial to president Buhari, as they will determine who emerge APC Flag bearer in the coming presidential election.
He called on the delegates to feel free to express their grievances to the national officials if they have any ' I want say here that before we proceed, if you have any complain you say it now ', he said.
' We are in Kebbi to complete what we started in July 31st, we have supervised the Ward and Local Government Congress. We are proud of Kebbi and even those in Abuja because of the way you conducted congresses.
' The outcome of the state executive election exemplifies the growth of Nigeria's democracy.
The Deputy Chairman of the state congress election, Chief of staff, Kebbi Government House, Alh. Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi quoted section of the party constitution that allows for consensus through which the party executives emerged.
Giving the votes of thanks, the elected Chairman of the State APC, Abubakar Muhammad Kana Zuru promised that he and other elected executives would uphold the trust reposed on them by the state governor and members of the party.
He pledged to further unite members of the party while urging the party executives at the grassroots to ensure they strengthened the party structures and carry its supporters along.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Chika Malami , ( SAN) said the consensus option adopted through which the state exco emerged was because of the peaceful nature of kebbi state. He prayed for their successful tenure.
Also addressing the gathering, the Speaker Kebbi State House of Assembly, rt Hon. Muhammad Sani Abubakar Lolo urged the elected officials to work deligently to get more members join the party.
He assured the party the full support of the state legislators while also thanking governor Bagudu for the valuable support to the legislators to carry out constituency projects in their domains.