A TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY AND LOYALTY: MY REFLECTION ON THE APC PRIMARIES AND OUR SHARED FUTURE.
The echoes of democracy have settled across our dear state, and the message from the people is unmistakable. With the successful conclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly, Senatorial, and Presidential primaries in Owerri, we have witnessed a masterful demonstration of party cohesion, grassroots mobilization, and absolute political fidelity. As I look back on the intense days of voting, counting, and alignment, my heart is filled with profound gratitude, not just as a public servant, but as a dedicated party man who believes in the progressive destiny of Imo State.
First and foremost, I offer my warmest and most profound congratulations to our leader, the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Dist. Sen Hope Uzodimma, on his well-deserved emergence as the APC Senatorial Candidate for the Orlu Zone (Imo West). To watch the stakeholders and delegates of the Orlu Zone speak with one thunderous voice is to understand the power of leadership rooted in equity and performance. For us within the administration, this victory is not an isolated political event; it is a direct validation of the Governor’s exceptional stewardship under the Shared Prosperity mandate. His emergence carries the weight of a people’s trust, confirming that his relentless pursuit of structural reconstruction, rural rehabilitation, and economic recovery has found deep resonance with the electorate. Having served with distinction in the Red Chamber previously, his return will undoubtedly give Imo State a formidable, experienced, and highly respected voice at the center of national governance.
In the same vein, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our victorious Presidential Candidate, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu . The conclusion of the presidential primary marks a historic turning point for our great party nationally, signaling a renewed covenant of progress, security, and economic expansion for Nigeria. What fills me with the greatest pride, however, is the monumental role that the Imo State APC family played in this nationwide victory. Our state rose majestically to the occasion, emerging fourth in the entire federation by delivering over 500,000 overwhelming votes to the President. This massive number is not a mere statistic; it is a bold statement of our loyalty, an unshakeable proof of our mobilization capacity, and an explicit indication that Imo State remains the foundational bedrock of the APC in the Southeast. By delivering such a decisive mandate, we have secured a strategic vantage point for our people at the national table, ensuring that our state’s interests remain at the forefront of the upcoming administration’s developmental agenda.
I also stand in total solidarity and celebrate all our standard-bearers who emerged victorious in the State House of Assembly primaries across the various constituencies. To our new candidates, I say congratulations. You have been handed a sacred trust by the grassroots. The primaries are over, and the time has come to transition from intra-party contestants to community unifiers. I charge you to bear this victory with humility, to extend an olive branch to your fellow contenders, and to instantly begin the work of closing ranks. Our ultimate victory in the general elections depends entirely on our capacity to match forward as an indivisible force, carrying the message of rural transformation and inclusive governance to every ward and autonomous community in the state.
To those who did not secure the tickets this time, I salute your courage, your investment, and your undeniable love for the party. In a transparent democratic process, only one flagbearer can emerge, but that does not diminish your status as pillars of our political family. You are true party men and women, and I encourage you to remain steadfast, keeping your structures intact and channeling your collective energy toward the total victory of the APC across all levels. Our party is vast, our vision is broad, and there is more than enough room for every dedicated hand to contribute to the building of a greater Imo.
As the Ministry of Rural Development and Empowerment continues its aggressive drive to bring infrastructure, economic stability, and empowerment to the grassroots, this electoral success provides the political stability we need to sustain our momentum. We have shown that we are a party that knows how to govern, how to organize, and how to stay loyal to our leaders. Let us carry this triumphant spirit into the general elections, secure in the knowledge that when we stand united behind our Governor and our President, there is no height we cannot attain. Long live the All Progressives Congress, and may God continue to bless the Eastern Heartland.
Chief Ifeanyi Damian Oruh Honourable Commissioner for Rural Development and Empowerment, Imo State.
