President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, November 2, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure a smooth conduct of the off-season governorship elections in their respective states.
President Tinubu, who gave the charge while handing out the APC’s flags to the candidates of the party in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, also said he is confident the party would do well in the November 11 elections.
Those handed the flags are Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo, who is running for a second term; Chief Timipre Sylva for Bayelsa and Alhaji Usman Ododo for Kogi State.
Addressing the candidates before handing out the flags, the president said: ”I want to thank the Governor of Kogi State, Yahya Bello, who is working hard to ensure the handover to our elected candidate, Usman Ododo.
“We are happy to have Hope Uzodinma, the great hope of our party and the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum. Thank you for the good job you are doing. Timipre Sylva congratulations on what you have achieved as a former governor and former minister.
”We are all facing the crusade for democracy, particularly in this time of elections. It is our hope and we have Hope Uzodinma as a candidate, that we will always come out victorious.
”I want to thank the active national leadership of our NWC and our hardworking Chairman. He is doing a good job and I thank him very much. Making an extra comment just before handing the flags out to each candidate, President Tinubu said ”all I am pleading is for free and fair elections. I believe we will do well.”
The event, which was held inside the Banquet Hall of the State House, had the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), and some guests of the candidates.
The APC national chairman commended the President for endorsing the candidates and for taking time out of his busy schedule to present the flags to them.
He said: “In order to fulfill all the arrangements and the regulations, INEC has already provided a timetable and the election is holding on 11th November 2023. Therefore, APC as a ruling party, has produced its gubernatorial candidates.
“We visited the three states and inaugurated the campaign councils. Today, Mr President has given his endorsements and also provided the flags to the three gubernatorial candidates.”
