By Our Correspondent, Warri
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, has commended the Delta South leadership of the party for initiating what he described as a timely effort to unite its members and reposition the party for victory in the 2027 general elections.
Tidi, reacting to Thursday’s Mega Meeting of APC Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders in Delta South, held at the Brownhill Coliseum, Warri, particularly hailed the district chairman, Chief Emman Amgbaduba JP, for placing reconciliation and inclusiveness at the heart of the party’s post-primary strategy.
The meeting reaffirmed the district’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other APC candidates, while urging members to return to their wards, units and communities to mobilise for the 2027 elections.
Tidi said the meeting underscored the need for the party to move beyond the divisions that may have accompanied the primaries and concentrate on the larger political objective.
He particularly commended Amgbaduba’s appeal to successful candidates to reach out to those who contested against them, saying no political contest should permanently divide members of the same political family.
“I commend Chief Amgbaduba for recognising that the real work begins after the primaries.
“Every primary produces winners and those who are disappointed. That is the nature of politics. But a primary is not the end of a political journey; it is only one stage in it.
“The wiser thing after every contest is to close ranks. Those who won need the goodwill and networks of those who did not, just as those who contested and did not emerge remain important to the larger project,” Tidi said.
He said the responsibility for reconciliation should not rest solely with party executives, urging candidates, former aspirants and other stakeholders to actively rebuild relationships and confidence within the party.
“Political expectations do not always translate immediately into positions or appointments. That is also part of politics. But an unmet expectation should not become a broken relationship.
“The greater wisdom is to keep people within the fold, recognise their value and give them reasons to continue believing in the larger project. That is the strength of an inclusive political culture,” he said.
Tidi also welcomed the stakeholders’ reaffirmation of support for Tinubu and Oborevwori, saying the next task was to translate that political commitment into effective grassroots mobilisation.
He said the performance of the Oborevwori administration provides the APC with a strong message to take to the electorate, adding that party members must communicate the impact of government policies and programmes in ways that resonate with the people.
“The performance of Governor Oborevwori should be a source of pride to every member of our party. There is a growing recognition across Delta that the Governor has done well and, in many areas, has surpassed the expectations of those who watched him assume office.
“That is political capital. We must not squander it. The Governor is going before the people with a record, and our responsibility as party members is to take that record to the electorate and make the case for his re-election alongside President Tinubu and the other candidates of our party,” he said.
He similarly urged APC members to take the achievements of the Tinubu administration to the grassroots, particularly in infrastructure, education, healthcare, economic development and empowerment.
According to Tidi, the participation of Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; State APC Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka; Chief Amgbaduba; State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor; and other leaders and stakeholders reflected a collective determination to strengthen the party ahead of the elections.
He said the call for all 87 wards in Delta South to deliver improved electoral performance must now be matched by sustained organisation and mobilisation at the grassroots.
“The election will not be won by the strength of one man or one group. It will be won by the combined strength of the political family.
“We have leaders who have demonstrated a willingness to bring people together. We have candidates who must now reach out across the divides created by the primaries. And we have a responsibility to take the records of our leaders to the people.
“What is required now is for all of us to put aside the contests that have ended and build the structure that will deliver the contests ahead,” he said.
Tidi urged APC leaders, candidates, former aspirants and members across Delta South to deploy their political structures, relationships and influence towards the success of Tinubu, Oborevwori and all candidates of the party.
“The primaries are over. The real battle is now before us. We must not allow yesterday’s disagreements to become tomorrow’s defeat.
“The victory of one must become the victory of all. Let us close ranks, take our message to the people and go into 2027 as one political family,” Tidi said.
