Why APC is Confident of Winning Back Edo and Expanding in the Southeast – Ganduje

APC National Chairman Umar Ganduje has expressed confidence in the party’s ability to reclaim Edo State and expand its influence in the Southeast, highlighting a strategic approach to upcoming elections and the importance of internal democracy.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed strong confidence in the party’s ability to recapture Edo State in the upcoming governorship elections on September 21, 2024. Speaking at a press briefing with members of the Kano Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday, Ganduje emphasized that the APC is fully prepared to reclaim the state, which the party lost to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) due to internal conflicts.

“Edo, which is coming on the 21st of September, I believe our campaign is in high spirits. We are getting ready for that election, and we believe we will be able to recover our state because it was an APC state, but due to internal wranglings, we lost it to the PDP. However, we are sure we will recover that state,” Ganduje stated confidently.

Ganduje further elaborated on the party’s plans for other states, particularly in the Southeast and Southwest regions. He noted that Ondo State, which remains under APC control, has successfully resolved internal issues following the death of its former governor. “As for Ondo State, it’s already an APC state, and after the former governor died with a number of problems, we were able to resolve those issues. We conducted primaries and succeeded in getting the person that they want,” he said.

Turning his attention to the Southeast, Ganduje acknowledged the region’s historical marginalization but attributed it to what he described as a “self-created” problem due to the fragmented political landscape. He highlighted the APC’s new approach to consolidate power in the region, starting with the 2024 Anambra governorship election. “Next year, there will be Anambra, which has been a state governed by APGA for many years, but we have introduced a new scheme,” Ganduje explained.

He continued, “The North and Southeast geopolitical zones both claim marginalization, but what we are telling them is that this marginalization has been self-created. How can you have five states ruled by four political parties? What will be your political bargain? So, we have introduced a new phenomenon which we call the political marginalization of the Southeast geopolitical zone, where we are working very hard to ensure that we get more states from that zone, and we want to start with Anambra.”

Ganduje expressed optimism about the APC’s chances in the Southeast, citing the party’s control of Ebonyi and Imo states and its ongoing efforts to expand its influence in the region. “Already, we have Ebonyi and Imo states; now we are encroaching into that zone to ensure that we capture most of the states. And if we get what we want, we will capture all the states,” he declared.

Ganduje also addressed the broader issue of political party activity in Nigeria, lamenting that many parties only become active during election campaigns. He stressed that the APC is working to change this narrative by ensuring that party offices at all levels remain operational and engaged year-round. “Our political party—APC, as an institution—wants to be active throughout the year. That is why we directed our offices, chapters at the ward level, to ensure that all our offices are renovated, become habitable, and also become operational,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of internal democracy within the party, noting that it helps to reduce tension and factions. “We always encourage internal democracy so that we reduce tension and factions within the party. Even though you may have incidents here and there, when we have internal democracy, you will find that there is more understanding and hope, especially when you are facing an election,” Ganduje concluded.