Delta APC launches unity effort in preparation for 2027 polls

The All Progressives Congress in Delta State has initiated a process to mend fences with disgruntled members and bolster its grassroots framework in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.

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This call for unity was a dominant theme in discussions at the APC Delta North Stakeholders’ Meeting, which took place in Asaba on Friday, where party leaders assessed their readiness for the 2027 polls.

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Sir Monday Onyeme, the Delta State Deputy Governor, addressed the stakeholders, emphasizing the need for party leaders to extend an olive branch to aspirants who lost during the party’s primaries and other members who felt marginalized by the party.

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Onyeme stressed that the APC would require the backing of every member to attain its political goals in the state, urging party leaders to put aside personal differences and reconcile with disgruntled members, giving everyone a role in the party’s campaign ahead of the elections.

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He cautioned that internal divisions would be detrimental to the party at a time when it was gearing up for another major electoral contest, stating that the party needed to present a united front.

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Onyeme asserted, “We must work together, and those who contested and did not win should not be abandoned, we must reach out to them and make them understand that there is a place for everybody in the party.”

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The deputy governor also commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to establish state police, describing this initiative as a crucial step towards enhancing security across the country.

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Onyeme argued that the Nigeria Police Force, given the country’s size and population, was unable to provide adequate security in every community, emphasizing the need for state police to fill this gap.

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He stated, “We need state police because the federal police cannot reach all the nooks and crannies, and today, it is becoming a reality, thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

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Onyeme expressed optimism that state police would enable governments to respond more swiftly to security threats while complementing the operations of the Nigeria Police Force.

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The meeting also saw the endorsement of Tinubu and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for second terms in office in 2027, with the motion moved by Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and seconded by Frank Esenwa.

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The stakeholders subsequently adopted the motion, demonstrating their support for the two leaders.

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Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the former Delta State Governor, also expressed his support for the push for state police, describing it as a significant development in the country’s security architecture.

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Okowa noted that the idea of state police had been discussed since 2000, but successive administrations had failed to implement it, stressing that state police should complement the Nigeria Police Force rather than replace it.

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According to him, allowing states to play a greater role in policing would improve their ability to respond to security challenges within their communities, and he urged APC leaders to intensify reconciliation efforts and strengthen their engagement with voters ahead of 2027.

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Okowa advised party members to move beyond political meetings and engage directly with communities, socio-cultural organisations, and other grassroots groups, stating, “The work ahead is at the grassroots, we must go back to our communities, engage the people and rebuild confidence in the party.”

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The Delta State APC Chairman, Chief Solomon Areyenka, and the Delta North Chairman, Mr Dan Ossai, also appealed to members to remain united and committed to strengthening the party.

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The stakeholders’ meeting concluded with renewed emphasis on reconciliation, grassroots mobilisation, and internal unity as the APC began preparations for the 2027 elections.