Former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, has urged candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to begin reconciliation moves with aggrieved party members following the conclusion of the party’s primary elections.
Shema gave the advice while addressing journalists after the party’s presidential primary in Dutsin-Ma, stressing that unity within the party remained critical to its success in the forthcoming elections.
He noted that while the primaries had produced winners and losers, all party members must place the collective interest of the APC above personal ambitions in order to strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.
He said candidates who emerged victorious should extend hands of fellowship to their opponents and supporters to avoid divisions capable of weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The chairman of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council Board explained that reconciliation and inclusiveness were necessary to sustain the APC’s dominance in Katsina State and maintain the confidence of the electorate.
Shema, who was the Co-chairman of the state’s APC reconciliation committee, said: “All those who won primary elections, they must reach out to those who lost, work with them and accommodate them.
“They should encourage them to support them, including the governments of the day. It is very important. Somebody cannot come out and participate in the primary election and everybody abandons them. That’s not right.
“I believe reconciliation should start not just with the committee or government, but even those who won those seats from the primary elections. There must be reconciliations.
“The reconciliation will go a long way in cementing the relationship and the cordial arrangement we have within our party, and within those who are members of our party.”
Shema also appealed to aspirants who lost during the primaries to accept the outcome in good faith and continue to support the party, noting that democracy thrives on sacrifice, tolerance and respect for internal party processes.
The former governor commended party officials for conducting the primaries peacefully and urged members to remain committed to the ideals of unity, loyalty and discipline.
He expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections if members remained united and focused on the party’s collective goals.
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