ADDRESS BY THE STATE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC), IMO STATE, AT THE STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THE 2026 APC PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Protocols.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of us to this important stakeholders’ meeting of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, Imo State.
Today, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and pride as I commend our members, leaders, stakeholders, and supporters for the exemplary conduct displayed during the recently concluded 2026 APC primary elections.
Our party adopted the Direct Primary Option to elect candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and the Presidency. I am delighted to report that the exercise was conducted peacefully across the state without any reported incident of violence.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to the political maturity of our members and the unwavering commitment of our leaders to democratic principles.
On behalf of the leadership of our party in Imo State, I wish to express profound appreciation to a man that have seen, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, the executive Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, whose exemplary leadership, guidance, and commitment provided the enabling environment for the successful conduct of these primaries. His dedication to internal democracy and party cohesion remains a source of inspiration to all of us.
Now that the primaries have come and gone, I warmly congratulate all those who emerged as candidates of our great party. Your victories are well deserved, and I urge you to remain humble, magnanimous, and committed to carrying every member of the party along as we prepare for the general elections.
To those who were not fortunate this time, I appeal for patience and understanding. Politics is a journey, not a destination. There is something called tomorrow. This is the time to demonstrate true sportsmanship because, in every sporting contest, only one person can emerge victorious.
Losing today does not mean losing forever. If you remain steadfast and loyal to the party, your opportunity may come tomorrow.
Permit me to share a personal testimony.
I joined active politics in the year 2000. In 2003, I contested for an elective office but was unsuccessful. In 2007, I contested again and lost. In 2011, I contested once again for the same office, I did not succeed. Yet, I refused to walk away from the party.
I remained loyal, committed, and dedicated to the ideals of our party and to our leader.
Then, by the grace of God, my story changed. Four years ago, the Lord turned my captivity. His Excellency graciously elevated me to become the South-East Zonal Publicity Secretary of our party APC. Subsequently, I was appointed a member of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University by the help of our dear governor. As if that was not enough, he later elevated to serve as the Managing Director of ISOPADEC.
Today, by the grace of God and the confidence reposed in me by the leadership of our party, I stand before you as the Chairman of APC in Imo State.
My journey is proof that loyalty pays, patience pays, and consistency pays.
Many mushroom political parties may be offering tickets and making attractive promises. However, I urge you not to be deceived. APC remains the largest political party in Africa and the party with the structure, vision, and capacity to deliver sustainable development for our people.
If you leave today to pursue ambitions elsewhere and fail, you may eventually return. But when you return, you will have to join the queue from the back.
Therefore, I encourage you to remain in the party, support our candidates, and work tirelessly for victory in the forthcoming elections. When the fruits of victory are eventually harvested, every loyal party member will be remembered and rewarded.
The Holy Bible provides us with a profound lesson. King David desired to build a temple for the Lord, but God had a different plan. The honour was eventually given to Solomon, his son.
The lesson is simple: God determines our seasons and appointments. Some of us may be destined for elective offices, while others may be called to serve through appointments. What matters is our willingness to serve and our readiness to allow God direct our paths.
You have offered yourselves for service. Allow God to place you where He desires. He is the One who lifts up one and brings down another. His plans are always perfect.
To our candidates, I offer this word of counsel. When by the grace of God you are elected into office, remember that you will be holding those positions in trust for the people. Leadership is service. Carry everyone along irrespective of who supported or opposed you during the primaries. Build bridges, not walls. Unite our people and justify the confidence reposed in you.
As we march toward the 2027 general elections, we must collapse into APC all structures built and used for primary elections. On the day of election, it is APC that will be on the ballot and not your private structure. Let us remain united, focused, and determined. Let us work together to secure overwhelming victories for our party from the Presidency to the State House of Assembly.
May God Almighty bless our great party.
May God bless Imo State.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
And may God grant APC a resounding victory in the 2027 general elections.