By Chesa Chesa
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged his colleagues in the National Assembly and other members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept the outcome of recent party primaries and rally behind candidates chosen for elective positions ahead of future elections.
Speaking during the inauguration of Ekiti State governorship campaign council in Abuja on Wednesday, Akpabio commended party members for their loyalty and praised the large turnout of prominent leaders and stakeholders at the event, describing it as a reflection of the party’s unity and strength.
The Senate President, however, appealed to the party leadership to ensure inclusiveness when compiling its final list of candidates and appointments, stressing the need to carry all stakeholders along.
According to him, some party members were anxious about the composition of the final list and wanted assurances that elected lawmakers and other party faithful would be adequately represented.
Akpabio acknowledged the powers vested in party leaders and elected executives to make political appointments and nominations, but maintained that such decisions should reflect broad consultations within the party.
He also advised politicians who failed to secure party tickets during the primaries to accept the verdict of party members, saying electoral success begins with adequate grassroots engagement.
He emphasized that party members seeking elective positions must do the necessary groundwork before contests rather than expecting intervention after losing primaries.
“When anybody has lost the election on the ground, please don’t expect me, as chairman of the National Assembly, to come and plead for the person to be included. It simply means the person has lost.
“So, I want to congratulate those who won the primaries. And then plead with my colleagues, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, that the Senate president, as chairman of the National Assembly, is saying that you should have done your homework well before going for the primaries”, he said.
Akpabio expressed confidence that the APC would remain united and successful in future elections, adding that the party’s leadership would ultimately endorse its candidates and campaign structures.
He concluded by praying for victory for the APC in upcoming elections and called on members to continue working together in the interest of the party and the country.
“May God Almighty grant us victory in the elections and grant us victory in justice,” he said.
