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President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, in Abuja, appealed to all candidates participating in the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, as well as the electorate to ensure free and fair elections.
The President appealed for the presentation of the All Progressives Congress flags to the standard-bearers in the upcoming elections.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the president presented the party flags to Timipre Sylva for Bayelsa State; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who is seeking a second term in office, and Ahmed Ododo for Kogi State.
The statement is titled ‘Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi governorship elections: President Tinubu appeals for fair and transparent electoral conduct.’
Tinubu said, “All I am pleading for is for free and fair elections. I believe we will do well.”
The President expressed optimism about the party’s chances of victory in the off-season elections, noting the hard work and records of the candidates, as well as the collective efforts of party officials, members of the party’s National Working Committee, and its National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
He said the collective efforts of the party men were factors inspiring his optimism in the forthcoming elections.
To the Kogi candidate, he said, “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,” the President told the Imo candidate.
To the Bayelsa governorship candidate, he stated, “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.”
The Nigerian leader also thanked the national leadership of the party, the NWC and the chairman whom he described as “hardworking” for their active roles.
“He is doing a good job, and I thank him very much,” Tinubu remarked.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the flag presentation, the APC National Chairman said the court judgments which sacked several governors in the past since 1999 necessitated off-season elections like those held in the three states on November 11.
He commended the President for endorsing the candidates and for taking time out of his busy schedule to present the flags to them.
“Taking you back memory lane in 1999 when democracy came back to Nigeria again, there was a general election in which produced the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and…the governors of the states…but later on due to litigation and court processes and judgments, a new dimension was created that resulted into off-season elections.
“We visited the three states (Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi) and inaugurated the campaign councils. Today, Mr President has given his endorsements and also provided the flags to the three gubernatorial candidates,” he noted.