By CHARLES IWUOHA

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has elected a new Executive to pilot its affairs for the next four years.

The election which produced a State Working Committee led by Chief Stanley Emegha took place at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki on Saturday.

Addressing the stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Congress Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi congratulated the party’s stakeholders for the peaceful and democratic conduct of the State’s Congress and observed that the Party would come out of the exercise stronger and more united to make exploits in prospective outings in the State and beyond.

He sought for two ministerial slots for Ebonyi State, owing to the intensity of the party in the state.

"Let me first and foremost congratulate our national leader, Mr. President, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose integrity and peaceful dispositions have given rise to a very peaceful and due process party, APC.

“Not to worry that there may be one or two-three people who may not be happy with what is happening in our great party, the APC but in any great house, there is nothing you will not find there. APC is a great house, a great party and the national caretaker chairman led by my very good brother and friend, the Governor of Yobe State has the grace and mechanism to resolve all the internal crises, no matter how minor they may be. Of course, they are very minor and I want to congratulate him for he is a man of due process, a man that has respect for every member of this party, himself and his members have led us well.

“Let me also congratulate the Chairman of APC Governors and all APC Governors both those here and those who will join us in a moment. Your Excellency, those of us who have joined you are not regretting it and we are at home.

"I am not only the Governor and an Apostle, but I am also a prophet, when my friend and Governor of Edo was in APC and I was in PDP, I prophesied that he was going to win no matter what happened, didn't the prophesy come to pass?

“The defection is completed, and no power because it is born of God, can reverse it. It is God that caused the defection and the defection has helped our people, the South East people very much and we are very happy. We are never in doubt about what will happen next. No one man owns the party, there is no headmaster in our party, we are all stakeholders in this great party, APC.

"I want to specially thank the people at the grassroots for standing by men during the Ward and Local Government Congresses, they have stood by me.

“I want our President to note that our party, APC in Ebonyi state is great and when federal positions are to be shared, you have to look at the intensity of the party in each state. Ebonyi state deserves two slots of ministerial positions.

The newly elected Chairman of the APC, Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Emegha on-behalf of other elected State Executive members thanked Governor David Nweze Umahi for the democratic manner he has been piloting the affairs of the Party in the State and assured that all the SEC members would continue to support the prosperity of the Party in the State.

"I am like the singing bird that said when its grandmother will die that nobody will eat, that he will go on entertaining people but unfortunately he developed a growth in his mouth, that cannot be my portion. Your Excellency, I must say that the Caretaker Committee of APC is well pleased with you for the way you have piloted the affairs of the Party. Thank you very much so far for your wonderful support."

He thanked all the delegates to the Congress for the confidence reposed in them and assured of their determination to work for the prosperity of the Party in the State and beyond.

"Your Excellency we are not going to let you down, Ebonyi will continue to maintain number one position in the country"

In a goodwill message, the Former Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Senator Julius Ucha, Senator Anthony Agbo, and the Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Elias Mbam, Ambassador Alex Nwofe expressed satisfaction with the democratic ethos of the APC in the State, saying the open-door approach to the Congresses in the State has further repositioned it to become a force to reckon with both in the State, South East and Nigeria at large.

Others, former Commissioner for Works, Chief Paul Okorie, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Celestine Nwali and Chairman of the Elders' Council, Chief Ben Okah, former INEC Commissioner, Chief Okeagu Ogada called on the newly elected State Executive to work tirelessly to consolidate on the unity already achieved in the Party and pledged to continue to support the Governor Umahi led administration.

On their part, former National Assembly members Mrs. Patience Ogodo, Chief Peter Ede, and Chief Peter Ogeali as well as the Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Victor Chukwu, and the Chairman of ALGON Ebonyi State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Iyioku restated their determination to continue to support the APC in future elections.

Honorable Ugo Chima, Chief Omo Isu, Architect Edward Nkwegu, Honourable Stephen Elem, Honourable Darlington Okereke, and the former Minister of Power and Steel commended Governor Umahi for his remarkable leadership in the State.

The former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Augustine Nwankwegu, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cletus Ofoke, and the former Chairman of the APC Ebonyi State, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu described Governor Umahi's leadership by example as a unique characteristic of a progressive Leader.

Other Speakers include, the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, member representing Ikwo/Ezza Federal Constituency, Chief Chinedu Ogah, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, former Deputy Governor Chigozie Ogbu.

Update news