National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that after capturing Cross River State in 2019 and Edo State in 2024, the next target of the party was to take over Rivers State in 2027 general election.
Ganduje disclosed this on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he led 16 members of the national working committee (NWC) of the APC to inaugurate the Chief Tony Okocha-led newly elected state executives of thed party in the State.
He charged the newly elected state executives of the party to also ensure that, apart upholding internal democracy, there should be moves to bring in new members into the party.
The APC national chairman said: “You are to ensure that there is internal democracy. You are to ensure that there are more entrants into the party. Use your political dexterity to ensure that our party is growing from strength to strength. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is peace and stability.
“You are of the South-South zone; you are aware that during the Buhari administration, we were able to take one state, Cross River. We were able to cross from PDP to APC. And during President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration, we were able to win squarely Edo State.
“Out of six, we have recovered two. So, since we have started with that, Rivers State is our target. Rivers State, we are here for you. Therefore, to win and bring Rivers State to APC is a task that must be done.”
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman of APC in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, assured the national leadership of the party that his team will work towards winning the state for the party in 2027.
Okocha said: “In league with my friends, members of the state executives council of the party and the teeming membership of APC in Rivers State, we assure you that in 2027, the story will be different. APC will take the rostrum there. The man who is the governor today in Rivers State has no party. Our constitution does not allow independent candidacy. APC will take the rostrum, we assure you.”