The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has officially sworn in 27 newly elected Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen, marking a key step in consolidating the party’s structure ahead of future electoral contests.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the party’s State Secretariat in Owerri and was conducted by the new State Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, alongside State Secretary Onyekachi Ibezim and other members of the State Working Committee.
Addressing the new executives, Chairman Onyedebelu stressed that their roles are a mandate for service, not merely positions of authority. He called for unity, discipline, and inclusiveness, urging the chairmen to engage all party stakeholders within their respective councils. Onyedebelu highlighted that the party’s strength depends on cohesive grassroots mobilization, requiring collective work to deepen APC’s presence across all wards and communities.
He emphasized strict adherence to the party’s constitution as the guiding framework for all activities and charged the chairmen with overseeing the transparent inauguration of their own LGA executives, ensuring processes reflect fairness and the party’s collective interest.
A significant point of instruction was loyalty to the party’s leadership, particularly to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, whom Onyedebelu identified as the state’s party leader. He noted that sustained support for the governor’s administration is central to the party’s stability and growth.
In a collective response, two of the new LGA Chairmen thanked the state leadership for the confidence shown. They pledged unwavering loyalty to the party and its constitution, promising diligent work to promote unity and strengthen the APC at the grassroots level.
This formalization of LGA leadership is a critical phase in the APC’s internal organization in Imo State, positioning the party for coordinated activities and potential future elections by solidifying its command structure at the most local level of governance. The success of this grassroots network is often seen as fundamental to a party’s electoral viability in Nigeria’s political landscape.
