The Delta State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Solomon Areyeneka, has charged leaders, candidates and members of the party in the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency to strengthen unity, deepen grassroots mobilisation and commence serious political work ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Areyeneka gave the charge on Wednesday at the second edition of the APC Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency Stakeholders Meeting convened by the Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives and APC candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, OON, at the MOD Event Centre, Asaba.
The meeting brought together party leaders and stakeholders from the four local government areas of the federal constituency, including members of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Council Chairmen and their Vice Chairmen, Local Government Area party executives, ward chairmen, legislative Arm leaders and Councillors, political pressure groups, artisans, non-indigenes and other party faithful.
Commending Elumelu for convening the stakeholders and providing a platform for regular interaction among party leaders, Areyeneka described Aniocha/Oshimili as a strategic federal constituency and called for greater cooperation among members.
He said the task ahead required unity of purpose and collective commitment, stressing that the party must work as one family to ensure victory for all its candidates in 2027.
The APC Chairman particularly called on party members to take reconciliation seriously, while also maintaining discipline within the party.
He urged leaders to remain politically alert and strengthen the party’s structures from the grassroots, especially at the unit level, saying the strength of the APC ahead of the elections would depend substantially on the capacity of its leaders and members to mobilise support in their respective polling units.
Areyeneka also charged the party’s candidates not to rest on the outcome of the primaries but to immediately embark on grassroots engagement and build personal relationships with the people.
According to him, winning the party’s ticket was only the beginning, as candidates must now work hard, reach out to the people and earn the support required to win the general elections.
He further cautioned party members against prematurely constituting campaign councils, explaining that the appropriate party structures and directives would be put in place at the right time.
On the ongoing empowerment programmes across the state, the APC Chairman called for fairness and inclusiveness, insisting that beneficiaries should be selected based on their capability and suitability rather than personal relationships.
He also appealed to members to see the various political pressure groups within the party as partners in the APC project, noting that such groups had important roles to play in mobilising support for the party.
Earlier, Elumelu explained that the stakeholders meeting was designed to provide a regular platform for party leaders and representatives to review party activities, receive reports, strengthen unity and maintain closer contact with the grassroots.
He said the initiative would also enable elected representatives and other leaders to account for their activities and keep party members informed about developments at the federal, state and local government levels.
Elumelu on behalf of all the candidates of the Party in the federal Constituency, thanked APC leaders and members for their support during the party’s primaries and formally presented the party’s candidates in the federal constituency to the State Chairman.
He said the gathering was equally an opportunity to assess the progress of the party, appreciate members for their contributions and review the empowerment programmes being implemented across the four local government areas in line with the approval of Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori.
The APC House of Representatives candidate also commended Governor Oborevwori for what he described as prudent management of state resources, inclusive governance and effective leadership.
Reports presented by the APC Chairmen in the four local government areas indicated progress in reconciliation, consultations and mobilisation at both local government and ward levels, with assurances that the party was intensifying efforts towards delivering its candidates in 2027.
Also speaking, the Delta State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, called for greater mobilisation in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and highlighted policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Similarly, the Coordinator of the APC Delta North Senatorial Reconciliation Committee, Rt. Hon. Pascal Adigwe, briefed the stakeholders on efforts to reconcile aggrieved party members and expressed confidence that the exercise was recording encouraging progress.
The meeting also featured reports from the Executive Chairmen of the local government areas within the federal constituency on governance, grassroots development, mobilisation and the commencement of empowerment programmes.
At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders unanimously resolved to support and work for the overwhelming victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and all APC House of Assembly candidates in the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.
The resolution followed a motion moved by the member representing Oshimili North in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Esenwa, seconded by Chief Rita Daniels and put to the meeting by the APC Delta North Senatorial Chairman, Engr. Dan Ossai, after which it was unanimously adopted.
