Lokoja Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday formally welcomed former Kogi State Governor Idris Wada and several opposition leaders into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ceremony was held on Monday at the Muhammadu Buhari Square, Lokoja.
It can be recalled that Wada defected alongside other leaders and members from the PDP, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), among different parties in the state.
Shettima described the moment as a new chapter in the life of the APC in Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.
“It gladdens my heart to see good governance at play. We are the confluence of progressives.
“What is happening in APC is more of a coalition of who’s who in Kogi and Nigeria.
“You have joined the family that brings peace and progress to the people of Nigeria, and you will not regret coming into the progressives’ fold.
“I am going back to Abuja to deliver the message to Mr President, the message from the confluence state today is that President Bola Tinubu’s victory in 2027 is total,” Shettima said.
The vice president pledged that the APC will continue to bring development to Kogi and the nation as a whole.
He commended former Governor Yahaya Bello for laying a solid foundation that the Ahmed Ododo administration is now building upon.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who handed over the APC flag to Wada, praised the people of Kogi for speaking with one voice.
Wada, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, affirmed that the APC, as a progressive party, is steering Nigeria in the right direction.
Wada noted that the removal of fuel subsidy is already yielding positive results in economic recovery by stabilising the naira against the dollar.
“The dividends of democracy are evident, and with these achievements, we take a bold step to cross over to the APC today.
“These and many other infrastructure developments all over Kogi and the country give us testimonies that the APC government is trying for Nigerians and is leading the country in the right direction.
“We must rally behind Mr President to secure his victory in 2027.
“Thank you, Mr President, for bringing down food prices, stabilising our currency and strengthening the naira.
“On behalf of all other defectors, I thank you for welcoming us, and I assure you that we will work for APC and bring progress to our community,” Wada said.
Ododo, who formally introduced the new APC members to the vice president, stated that they were effective grassroots leaders who would make positive contributions to the party’s growth and development.
The governor noted that the formal defection of the new party members had shown that Kogi belonged to the APC.
He also acknowledged the love of President Tinubu for the development of Kogi, through the various Federal Government projects being executed in the state.
“President Tinubu is my father, and I am proud to be his son. He is a true leader who has consistently shown me how to be a good leader.
“Mr President is a committed democrat, and I am sure Nigeria will be great again under his leadership,” Ododo said.
Earlier, the Kogi APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, assured that Tinubu did not need to come for the election campaign for his second term in Kogi, stating that his victory is already guaranteed.
The SDP 2023 deputy governorship candidate in Kogi, Chief Sam Abenemi, ex-speaker, Kogi assembly, Alfa Imam; three serving assembly members: Bode Ogunmola (PDP Ogorimangogo), Idowu Ibukunle (ADC), Yagba West, and Sunday Daku (PDP Basaa) were among the defectors.
Party dignitaries at the event include the immediate past governor of the state, Bello; Senator Sunday Karimi, the speaker; and members of the Kogi Assembly, as well as political appointees, among others.
The rally was attended by party members and supporters from the 21 local government areas of the state.
