Edith CHUKU
Determined to secure victory for president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term ambition in the forthcoming 2027 election, the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, has charged members of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the state to shelve personal political ambitions.
Diri gave this charge while inaugurating coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors RHA, in the eight local government areas, where he urged them to focus on Tinubu’s second term re-election bid.
He emphasized need for leaders of the party to shun divisive tendencies, rather ensure unity of purpose and success in their various wards and local government areas.
The Bayelsa helmsman charged the local government coordinators to mobilise members of the party for the ward, local government and state congresses and ensure success for the APC at all levels, while reaffirming that Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, remained the state coordinator.
Those inaugurated as RHA local government coordinators are Kuro Matthias Nyenye (Nembe), Dr. Godson Torukuru (Yenagoa), Uroh Kiani (Brass) and Mr. Biewari Orupeighe (Southern Ijaw)
Others are High Chief Okubokakpo Ombu (Sagbama), Chief Ebinyo Turner (Ogbia), Rt.Hon. Tonye Isenah (Kolokuma/Opokuma) and Hon. Orubebe Ogeibiri (Ekeremor).
Diri tasked the RHA on inclusive leadership at the local government and state levels as well as work with the South-South zonal coordinator, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, a former governor of Delta State.
Meanwhile, during the APC stakeholders meeting at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the governor noted that, “we are aware that some of you have personal political ambitions. However, put such ambition on hold for now. You belong to a political party that has only one ambition that is above every other ambition, which is the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
“So, the major purpose of this meeting is to ensure that the nomination of President Tinubu as the only presidential candidate of the APC in the forthcoming election is our number one priority.“
The governor also announced committees to oversee the party’s ward congresses.
For Brass, members of the committee are the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, Hon. Sunny Goli, and Victor Sam-Ateki.
Ekeremor has the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Michael Ogbere, former deputy governor Peremobowei Ebebi, Chief Fidelis Agbiki, and Mr. Tari Porri as members.
Chief Isaac Kumokou (KOLGA Constituency 1) and Dr. Tarilah Tebepah ( KOLGA Constituency 2) are in charge of Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA.
In Nembe, the committee has the APC acting state chairman, Dr Dennis Otiotio, Senator Degi Eremienyo, former Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (Rtd) as well as Mr. Ebi Ben-Ololo and Mr. Oteigbanyo Braah.
Ogbia has Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Senator Benson Agadaga and Mr. Gabriel Ogbara as members while for Sagbama, the members are the Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Commission, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, and Chief Kemi Prefa.
The ward congress committee for Southern Ijaw has as members Senator Konbowei Benson, Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei, Monday Obolo-Bubou, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, and Chief David Lyon while Yenagoa has a former acting governor and former Speaker of the State Assembly, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Hon. Oforji Oboku, Dr. Gentle Emelah and Chief Boma Spero-Jack.
In his remarks, the chairman of the APC caretaker committee, Dr. Otiotio, said the party’s national secretariat had published the timetable for ward, local government, state congresses and the national convention.
He stated that the ward and local government congresses would hold on February 18 and 21 respectively while the state congress is slated for March 1, 2026.
