A forum of former chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.

They also congratulated President-elect Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, on their victory at the polls.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the group after its meeting on Monday.

In the communique signed by Prophet Jones Ode Erue, Chairman, and Rt. Hon. Nelson Alapa, Secretary, the chairmen also took a stand on the upcoming off-season governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.

The communiqué reads in full:

“After a thorough deliberation of the events of the just concluded general elections and the upcoming primary elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States, we, the members of G-37, comprising of former APC States Chairmen and former members of the Non-NWC of the National Executive Committee of APC from 2013 to 2021, resolved as follows:

“That a vote of confidence be passed on President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring free, fair, and credible elections and for diligently preparing a smooth transition and transmission of power to the President-elect, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“That a vote of confidence be passed on the National Working Committee of APC, led by H.E. Senator Abdullahi Adamu, for vigorously supporting and campaigning for our presidential candidate and providing the enabling conditions that led to the massive victories recorded by candidates of the Party at the national assembly, gubernatorial, and state house of assembly elections.

“That we heartily congratulate the President-elect, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Vice President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima, for their electoral victory at the presidential polls.

“That given the Party’s overwhelming performance at the just concluded general elections against the monumental challenges that confronted us, care must be taken to ensure that our Party produces the best candidates who have the capacity to win the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States

“That in order to sustain our winning streak in Imo State, we have resolved to support H.E. Governor Hope Uzodinma for a second term in office due to his sterling leadership qualities in steering the affairs of the party, which has resulted in the candidates of our great party sweeping the national and house of assembly seats in the state.

“That we have resolved to support H.E. Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, in producing his own successor, as history has shown that Governor Bello has perfected the unique ability to win elections even from impossible angles.

“That we resolved to support the former Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, H.E. David Lyon, in flying the APC flag for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State. Recall that H.E. David Lyon has shown his capacity to win elections in Bayelsa State. It is on record that he defeated the incumbent governor during the last election. But for judicial intervention, which truncated his victory stemming from the disqualification of his then Deputy Governor-elect, H.E. David Lyon would have been sworn in as the Governor of Bayelsa State. It is therefore our considered opinion that H.E. David Lyon should be given the right of first refusal to fly the flag of our great party.

“G-37 seizes this opportunity to call on all those leaders who worked against the victory of the party at the presidential elections to purge themselves of the sins of anti-party activities and returned back to join hands with our President-elect Ahmed Bola Tinubu, his Vice President-elect Sen. Kashim Shettima, and National Chairman Sen. Adamu Abdullahi to build a united and prosperous Nigeria and a party we would all be proud of.”