Election: APC will reclaim Edo, expand in Southeast, capture all 36 states — Ganduje

…Says Party encourages internal democracy to reduce tension

…APC set to introduces electronic membership registration

In an ambitious declaration, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed unwavering confidence that the party will capture all 36 states in Nigeria if they achieve their goals.

With a focus on internal democracy and strategic planning, the APC is poised to expand its reach and dominance in the country’s political landscape. 

Abdullahi Ganduje confidently announced the party’s intention to recapture Edo State in the upcoming governorship elections scheduled for September 21, 2024. 

Ganduje made this assertion during a meeting with the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday.

“Our campaign is in high spirits,” Ganduje stated. “We are getting ready for that election, and we believe we will be able to recover our state because it was an APC state, but due to internal wranglings, we lost it to the PDP. However, we are sure we will recover that state.”

Regarding Ondo State, Ganduje described it as already an APC stronghold. 

He noted that despite issues following the former governor’s death, the party has resolved the problems and is preparing for the upcoming election in November. “We conducted primaries and succeeded in getting the person that they want,” Ganduje added.

Looking ahead, Ganduje detailed the party’s strategy for expanding its influence in the Southeast. He criticised the fragmentation in the region and emphasised APC’s efforts to address political marginalization. 

“The marginalisation has been self-created,” Ganduje said. “How can you have five states ruled by four political parties? What will be your political bargain?”

Ganduje highlighted the party’s ambition to start with Anambra next year, aiming to build on recent successes in Ebonyi and Imo. “We are encroaching into that zone to ensure that we capture most of the states. And if we get what we want, we will capture all the states,” he asserted.

He emphasised the importance of internal democracy to reduce tensions and foster understanding within the party. 

“When we have internal democracy, there is more understanding and hope, especially when facing an election,” Ganduje concluded.

APC’s strategic moves underscore its goal to strengthen its political foothold across Nigeria in the coming months.

Ganduje also emphasised the need for synergy between party officials and political office holders. 

“That is if you are talking about the governors, they have a close relationship between them and the party’s structure in the state level and the same thing at the national level,” he stated. 

Additionally, Ganduje mentioned that the APC has established a Progressives Institute as an intellectual wing of the party. “It is to analyse national issues so that they can get the attention of the government to become an agenda for the government.”

He observed that political parties in developing countries like Nigeria are usually active only during electioneering campaigns, but that is not how it should be. “When we came in, we said we must change the narrative. Our political party, the APC, as an institution, wants to be active throughout the year,” he added. 

The party also plans to introduce an electronic registration system for its members. 

Ganduje explained that the electronic registration will help the party to accurately determine its membership data, including age groups, sex, profession, educational level, and more. This will enable the party to effectively target its campaigns and fulfill its promises to various demographic groups.

Ganduje also highlighted that the party has recognised the high level of unemployment, particularly among the youth, and has organised a national conference to address this issue. 

He added that the party will soon reform the national curriculum to produce employable graduates.