- Orubebe-led Sub-Committee assures of successful exercise
- Says party learnt Useful lessons from APC victory in Edo election
By David Oghojafor
As the political timeline for 2027 flashes on the horizon, the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has kick-started a process of a peaceful reconciliation aimed at addressing existing grievances amongst members that are said to have bedevilled the party after the 2023 elections.
The Reconciliation Sub-Committee, led by former Minister of Nigeria Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday. The ongoing meetings commenced with APC members from Delta South Senatorial District on Tuesday, September 24.
The meeting was held at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta State. The gathering which was held behind closed doors, attracted members and leaders of the party from the 8 Local Government Areas of the district.
It was gathered that during the meeting, members of the party expressed their grievances.
Addressing the press shortly after the meeting, the chairman of the sub-committee, Orubebe, said that the meeting was very successful. He added that the purpose of the meeting was to reconcile and unite leaders and members who have been nursing grievances in the aftermath of the 2023 governorship election which the party lost to the PDP.
According to him, the party initiated the peace and reconciliation moves to foster unity amongst members of the party in the state, adding that it is seriously aiming at winning the State from the PDP in 2027.
He noted that the huge attendance at the meeting was indicative of the interest and enthusiasm with which the members embraced the reconciliation process, stating that the process had started in earnest at the leadership level before it was brought to the grassroots level.
He said: “Today’s meeting was very successful. We have started the process of bringing everybody in the party together so that we can take over from the PDP in 2027.
“You can see the enthusiasm in the minds of the people. So, we are working hard and around the clock. Leaders at the State level have been meeting, and now we have brought it to the grassroots level.
“Thereafter, we shall bring the leaders together and get it done and take over power from the PDP in 2027. We are determined.”
Also, Orubebe, former Director-General of the Delta State APC Governorship Campaign Organization in the 2023 election in the State, noted that the party had learnt some useful lessons from the recent governorship election in Edo State, ascribing the victory to the unity amongst the party leaders in Edo State.
He recalled that there was the challenge of disunity amongst party leaders in the State in 2023, pointing out that the purpose of the current reconciliation initiative was to avoid past mistakes.
He continued: “Well, in the Edo State election, every leader came together. Despite their grievances and challenges, they came together. But in Delta State in 2023, we have some challenges with some leaders.
“And those are the things we want to avoid and it is one of the lessons we learnt from the Edo election. Once there is total unity, you will see that victory is ensured.”
Orubebe assured that the reconciliation process will surely succeed, adding that the initiative started overtime with leaders at the state level, just as he stated that the move to resolve the differences amongst members at the grassroots gained the support of the leaders at the state level.
“It will succeed. The meeting you see here today is a meeting that has been going on over and over. The leaders have been meeting at the state level. And what you see here now is what every leader wants the party to do.
“So, there is unity in the party now, there is commitment in the party and there is understanding in the party now. People are looking forward to the party taking over the State from the PDP in 2027”, he concluded.
Present at the event were other members of the Sub-Committee including Comrade Ovuozorie. Macaulay, Secretary, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwe, member, Barr. Francis Obigbor, member; Mr William Deniran, Deputy Secretary; Mr Paul Azorbo Amabiri, member; Mrs Ayu, member; Dr Veronica Ogbuagu, member Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo, secretary, Media Sub-Committee, Prince Fred Mordi, member of Media Sub-Committee. Also present was Surv. Peter Akarogbe-State Secretary of the Party, Mr. Austin Oribioye-State Vice Chairman Delta South amongst others.
