By Sam Afam Anukwu Esq.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South today affirmed a consensus Zonal Executive Committee, in a widly attended congress held today Wednesday 25th March, 2026 at Dome event center in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.
The congress, which was attended by party leaders, Senators, House of Reps members, members of Houses of Assemblies, Local Government Chairmen, former Governors and Non seating members of both Senates and House of Assembly, members of the State working committees, LGA party Chairmen, as well as the delegates from the South South zone. The Congress also have in attendance the Governors of the six States within the South South region, namely, Akwa-Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross Rivers State, Delta State, Edo State and Rivers State including the Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as well as former Governors, Deputy Governors, lawmakers, top Government functionaries and other key Politicians and Political appointees from across the six States in the region.
In his welcome address, the out going National Vice President of the party from the zone who is also the Zonal Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom thanked the party leaders and stakeholders for their support during his tenure and highlighted the achievements made hitherto by the APC in the zone, to include electoral victories, unity amongst stakeholders, and increased territorial landmarks of the APC in the zone from just two state Governors to six states being ruled by APC in the region.
On his part, Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Omokwedo Oborevwori, in his goodwill message, welcomed the delegates to Asaba and described the congress as a demonstration of the party’s strength, unity, and readiness for future political engagements, he opined that party in the zone is ready for the business of politics and remain the only living political party in the zone. He was optimistic on the need for a sustained grassroots mobilizations and urged party frontiers at all levels to deepen internal cohesion, strengthen structures and maintain strong connections with the people, and most importantly shurn all manner of differences and embrace peace for the best interest of the Party, both in our LGAs, States, and the South South region.
The Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Sen Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, also highlighted the need to be united as a party, describing the adoption of consensus as a major step in reducing internal conflicts and fostering collective ownership within the party. He maintained that, for the first time after a long political history, the region is echoing with one voice. He opined that with all the Governors from the zone in attendance at the congress, it portrays mutual commitments to the region’s interests and benefits to all participants and to all political players within APC in the zone.
As an addendum, other Governors from other states namely, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River State, His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, and His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State also lend their separate remarks, they all emphasized on the importance of Unity in the zone and aligned with the Government at the centre.
In a strong remarks, the Senate President, Sen Godswill Akpabio, conveyed the goodwill message of the President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and commended the South-South for its coexistence and unity that brought about the political consolidation and absorbance of other political parties within the zone into APC. He noted that the region had witnessed remarkable transformation, moving from norminal APC presence to becoming a strong political block with increased alignment of governors and stakeholders. Sen Akpabio challenged the party faithful in Delta to position themselves as South-South bodily presence and other benefits in the party structure of Nigeria, but accept in good faith the Creation of Anioma as the Sixth State in the South East, He reiterated that the headquarters of Anioma State will remain in Asaba, and the Capital of the old Delta State will move to Warri.
The Senate President took over the meeting at this juncture to preside over motions for the Congress proceed through a consensus arrangement, reinforcing the party’s commitment to unity and internal cohesion.
The Proceedings commenced with a motion for the dissolution of the outgoing Zonal Executive Committee, moved by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, and Chairman of Conference of Legislatures in Nigeria, The Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and seconded by his counterpart from Bayelsa State, The Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere and was unanimously adopted.
In a Subsequent, a motion adopting consensus as the mode of electing new officers, this was moved by Senator Essien Williams of Cross River State and seconded by Senator Aniekan Bassey of Akwa Ibom North East and was also unanimously adopted by all delegates.
At the end of the Proceedings, as conducted by the Zonal Congress steering committee, the following persons were adopted as consensus Working committee Executive of the South South APC. They includes.
1. Chief Victor Giadom- National Vice Chairman (South-South Chairman),
2. Dr. Ita Udosen, Zonal Secretary,
3. Barr. Neworld Safugha, Legal Adviser,
4. Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, Publicity Secretary,
5. Prince Urhoro Koyoyo, Youth Leader,
6. Hon. Suobankuo Omoni, Women Leader,
7. Hon. Prince Edward, Organising Secretary,
8. Prince Ayo Peter, Special Leader of Persons with Disabilities.
The event was rounded up with the swearing in of the Zonal Executive committee by the Public Notary team, who administered oats of office to the affirmation of Executives with a charge to other participants and stakeholders to go home with a renewed hope to foster unity amongst by party leaders, the party frontiers, and all stakeholders and members of APC across boards to strengthen the party conversing forces, foster unity, expand grassroots support, and consolidate to ensuring victories in the coming General elections to the best interest of the party at all levels.
