The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended a hand of fellowship to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the recently concluded Local Government Council Elections.
Naija News reports that APC secured all 23 chairmanship and 255 councilorship seats in the local government elections held on Saturday, October 19.
PDP, however, has disagreed with the outcome of the poll.
Reacting, the ruling party berated the opposition camp for disagreeing with the electoral process, insisting that the council election supervised by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) was free, fair, credible and transparent.
The party also urged the PDP to accept the election outcome in good faith.
It said: “The Kaduna State Government created a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent elections. Unfortunately, some forces within and without were determined to create commotion and anarchy in Kaduna State. People who claim to be Democrats mobilized thugs to stop the distribution of election materials. The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) and security agencies however rose to the challenge, surmounted all odds, and ensured the conduct of free and credible elections across Kaduna State.
“We urge the PDP to do some soul searching to find out how it came to this sorry pass. How can a leading opposition party in Kaduna State allow anti-democratic elements to hijack it in furtherance of interests and goals alien to Kaduna State? Those who pillaged the common patrimony of the Kaduna people found an opportunity during the local government elections to dump their ill-gotten wealth. They were, however, stopped in their tracks by the vigilant, resilient and resolute citizens of Kaduna State.”
The statement added: “We are willing and ready to join hands with progressive elements in PDP and other parties to grow and develop our local governments. We are all stakeholders in the Kaduna Project. No person or area will be left behind. The interests of the good people of Kaduna State must at all times be at the forefront of our minds.
“Finally, let us all remain focused on the responsibility we have towards the citizens of Kaduna State. As we celebrate, we must also bear in mind that the road ahead will be rough and tough. We must get to work for our people. They expect so much from us. We must not fail them.”
APC Congratulates Newly Elected Local Government Chairmen, Councillors
In a statement on Monday, Salisu Tanko Wusono, Publicity Secretary of the chapter, said the victory secured in last Saturday’s election is significant in many respects.
“It is a vote of confidence by the good people of Kaduna State in our great party and the transformative leadership of Governor Uba Sani. It is also a clear mandate from the people to expand and deepen the Rural Transformation Agenda of our trail-blazing administration in Kaduna State.
“As the closest tier of government to the people, we urge our newly elected representatives to remember that their primary responsibility is to serve the interests of their people.
“They must be good ambassadors for the APC, embodying our party’s core values of service, accountability, and development. The people of Kaduna have placed their trust in us, and we must live up to their expectations,” the statement said.
The APC urged the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors to seize the moment and effect changes in their communities.
The APC chief added: “You must get to work immediately and address key challenges in areas of healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security. We encourage you to engage actively with your constituents, listen to their concerns, and work diligently to meet their needs. Remember, leadership is not about power but service.
“We would like to express our profound gratitude to the electorate in Kaduna State for their unwavering support and confidence in the All Progressives Congress. Your votes are testaments to your belief in our vision for a prosperous and united Kaduna State. We assure you that our commitment to meeting your aspirations remains resolute. Together, we can achieve remarkable progress for our communities, ensuring that the benefits of governance are felt by all.”