By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

As the new party executives emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Congress, Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Bagudu, asked the new executives under the new State Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Muhammed Kana and 35 others, to reach out to aggrieved members with a view to ensuring the cohesiveness of the party in the state.

Bagudu, the APC Progressives Governors’ Forum Chairman, made the appeal Saturday, at the APC State Congress held in Birnin Kebbi, where delegates from the 21 local government areas of the state gathered to elect new leaders through consensus.

He advised them to redouble efforts in taking the party to victory and show respect to members of the party.

Bagudu, in his speech said electoral process is not without rancour but that, he as the governor and leader of the party in the 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 government 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. That way APC will prosper more, win more elections and deliver dividends of democracy to the people,” he said.

“President Buhari has always given us advice to be strategic in our political dealings which has earned the party more respect and accounted for the gale of defections to APC from other parties across the nation,” he added.

Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah representing Kebbi South and Chairman of main committee for the State Congress of APC said the committee 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.

He 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.

“Only God gives power to whom He wishes. I enjoined our party delegates and party supporters to conduct themselves in a way that will reflect the good image of the state.

“All the local government delegates are here and they already know the method we are going to use because it is the easiest way,” he stated.

Mr. Osita Okechukwu, leader of the committee from the National Secretariat of the APC, Abuja, who were sent to supervise the congress, said: “Kebbi APC is unique in the manner it always conducts its elections, in orderly and peaceful manner.”

While speaking directly to the delegates, Okechukwu said: “I want to say here that before we proceed, if you have any complain you say it now.

“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.”

While delivery his vote of thanks on behalf of other elected executives, the new Chairman of the State APC, Abubakar Muhammad Kana, promised that he and other elected executives would uphold the trust reposed on them by the state governor and members of the party.

“We will unite members of the party. I called on the party executives at the grassroots to also ensure they strengthened the party structures and carry its supporters along,” Kana said.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar 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.

•PHOTO: Chairman of the APC Kebbi State Congress, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, and other committee members during the State Congress in Birnin Kebbi

Update news