President Bola Tinubu made a heartfelt appeal to all candidates participating in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections on November 11 in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states to ensure that the elections are fair and free.
The President also requested that the All Progressives Congress (APC) flags be given to the standard bearer who will represent the party in the forthcoming elections in Abuja.
He handed over the party flags to specific individuals for their respective states: Chief Timipre Sylva for Bayelsa State, Governor Hope Uzodinma, who is running for a second term in Imo State, and Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for Kogi State.
President Tinubu in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said: “All I am pleading for is for free and fair elections. I believe we will do well.”
The President showed confidence in the party’s chances of winning in the off-season elections. He based this optimism on the candidates’ hard work and track records, as well as the collaborative efforts of party officials, members of the APC National Working Committee, and the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
He said that the combined efforts of these party members were the reasons behind his positive outlook for the forthcoming elections.
“I want to thank the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is working hard to ensure a handover to our candidate, Usman Ododo. We are happy to have Hope Uzodinma, the great hope of our party and 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 this 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 party, the NWC, and our hardworking chairman. He is doing a good job, and I thank him very much,” President Tinubu said.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, praised the President for supporting the candidates and for dedicating time from his busy schedule to present the flags to them.
In the meantime, General Christopher Gwabim Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has affirmed the armed forces’ readiness to ensure the strict implementation of the presidential directive to address individuals involved in electoral violence decisively.
Kanyi Daily recalls that River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had a meeting with Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.