The people of Kogi state have been urged to get their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ahmed Ododo.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who is also the Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for Kogi State Governorship Election, gave the charge at the official flag-off of the State APC Governorship Campaign and the official presentation of flag to Usman Ododo, in Lokoja, on Sunday.

Abiodun said voting the APC would provide the opportunity for the consolidation of the outstanding dividends of democracy that have been visibly provided by the party in the state, by voting for the candidate of the party in the November 11 governorship election.

He insisted that APC was the only party in the State and urged the people not to make the mistake of not consolidating on visible gains, ensuring the continuity of good governance and aligning with the party in the centre.

The governor said, “I urge you to vote for consolidation by voting for the APC Governorship Candidate to enable him build on security, infrastructure, education and several other visible achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello.

“The APC will sustain the trajectory of development in Kogi state. Don’t vote for strangers. Get your PVC and vote for the APC. In Kogi state, we have only one party and that is the APC.”

Governor Abiodun used the opportunity to welcome the thousands of defectors from opposition parties, who had just declared on Sunday for the APC, saying they had taken the best decision to stay with the winning train in the interest of the state’s sustained development.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, expressed the optimism that the APC would win the November 11 governorship election resoundingly, assuring the people of Kogi state that they were about to vote in a man with the intellectual capacity to consolidate on the many achievements of his boss, Governor Yahaya Bello.

He said the President had just approved funds for the construction of Ganaja Road, adding that the Abuja – Lokoja – Okene Road and Kabba – Ilorin Road would also receive the Federal Government’s attention very soon.

The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, called for the unity of APC members in the coming Governorship election and urged the people of the state to shun ethnicity, stressing that what everyone should look forward to is the victory party for the APC.

“Without mincing words. The only party in Kogi is the APC. We have all it takes to mobilise massively for the APC Governorship Candidate.
I’m looking forward to a victory party because we parade the best candidate who has uniting the people as his priority. Let’s shun tribalism and ethnicity,” Ganduje stated.

Governor Yahaya Bello said he thanked God that he had been able to place the State on the path of sustained development.

“Within the period of service to the people of the State, I have built and improved infrastructure, security, and recently made education in the state free at all levels in public, primary and secondary schools. I’m proud to state that we are leaving Kogi State better than we met it for those that will govern after us.

“Without exaggeration, APC will win the November 11 Governorship election, landslide. This is because our work, achievements and our party will speak for us. Kogi is APC and APC is Kogi state,” he added.

Ododo promised to build on the outstanding achievements of Governor Bello, assuring the people that, if elected, their welfare would be his administration’s priority.

“I am promising more youth and women inclusiveness in governance. My agenda for the State is Kogi Agenda. I will not disappoint our leader and father, President Bola Tinubu; I will not disappoint my mentor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello; I will not disappoint our party and I will not disappoint the good people of Kogi State. We will consolidate on the achievements of my leader in the state and strive towards continuity and sustainability in the areas of security, education, agriculture, and improved infrastructure, amongst several areas the APC administration has made a mark,” he said.