APC best option to actualise South East Presidency – Odigie-Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said that the party remained the best option for the South East to actualize its presidency aspiration in the nearest future.
Odigie-Oyegun stated this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating a 48-member Anambra State Governorship Campaign Council ahead of the state’s governorship election slated for November 18.
Odigie-Oyegun challenged the committee to work and bring the South East into the main stream of Nigeria’s politics and into “the progressive family”.
He also charged the committee, led by the Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to mobilise the entire citizens of Anambra State for victory.
He said the state was very important to the APC, pointing out that a victory for the party in Anambra State would help to address the cries of marginalisation in the South East.
He said: “We must change the narrative in the South East and we must start with Anambra, because the APC represents the most viable root for any South East person to the presidency of this country.”
Odigie-Oyegun said the APC recognised that the Anambra State election would not be a bed of roses in view of the fact that the incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano, was seeking re-election.
He, however, expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious in the election.
“If the APC can defeat an incumbent President, we can also defeat an incumbent governor; we have done it before in Kogi and Ondo States,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the committee said though the task was daunting, party members would ensure that the APC emerged victorious in the election.
Abubakar added that the committee recognised that it was necessary for the APC to win the Anambra State governorship election and bring the zone into main stream of national politics.
Abubakar, however, said there was the need for the party and its members to work for its success in the election.
He advised the party’s members in the state to avoid a repeat of the defeat it suffered in Osun West Senatorial District election.
He added that the party should capitalise on the age of its candidate, Tony Nwoye, to campaign for a generational shift.
According to him, Nwoye’s victory will give the youths “a say” and assurance.
The leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, assured that the people of the state would work with the committee to ensure victory for the party
Members of the committee are Governors Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).
Others are Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu of Science and Technology Ministry.