The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says governors and leaders would do everything legal to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), retains the South-South geo-political zone in the next round of elections.
Wike made the declaration at the 2016 South-South Zonal Congress  of the party held Saturday in Port Harcourt, with Elder Emmanuel Ogidi (Delta State) emerging as the national vice chairman (South-South).
Ogidi replaces Dr Cairo Ojougboh, whose tenure ended on Saturday after the dissolution of the Zonal Executive.
Addressing  the  South-South PDP Zonal  Congress,  Wike stressed that the governors will provide  the required  support to PDP members in Edo State to ensure the party wins the governorship election in September.
Wike spoke on behalf of the PDP governors of the zone.
He said: “The South-South Governors will make sure that PDP retains the zone. All the governors in the  zone will work as a family.
“We shall give all necessary support to our party members in Edo State for the party to reclaim the state in September”.
The governor said that the National Convention of the party would  be successfully held on May 21 in Port Harcourt, pointing out that the ranting of deflated politicians on sponsored television programmes  would serve no purpose.
“The PDP Governors  and leaders of the zone support the National Convention, which will hold successfully on May 21”, he said.
He said those issuing press statements on the National Convention were only struggling to be relevant because they know the strength of the party ahead of the next elections.
The governor explained that South-South  PDP Governors have all proven to be high-class  performers,  having delivered  on the developmental  programmes  of the party.
Wike  called on PDP members to remain united in the zone, as that was the only way they can consolidate  on their successes.
In his remarks,  Senate  Minority  Leader,  Godswill Akpabio, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to  conclude the rerun  elections in Rivers and other states.
Akpabio, added that  South-South PDP National Assembly members worked hard to ensure that the Calabar-Lagos rail line was included in the 2016 budget.
The former Akwa Ibom governor said that Nigerians were now yearning for PDP to return to power because they have discovered that the party served them faithfully.
Also speaking, Minority Leader of the House of  Representatives, Leo Ogor, berated the Muhammadu Buhari -led administration for failing the Nigerian people.
Highpoint  of the Zonal  Congress  was the successful  election of the new executives  of the party drawn from  the  six states of  the  zone.
In his post-election address, National Vice Chairman (South-South), Elder Emmanuel Ogidi,  pledged to work as a committed and loyal servant to the party.
Those in attendance included: Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Prof Ben Ayade (Cross River);  Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); and Senator  Ifeanyi Okowa  (Delta).
Also in attendance were: Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; and Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Leo Ogor.
Meanwhile, the former President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark has urged the newly elected executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-Central zone to reclaim the zone for the party in 2019.
Mark gave them the task at the party’s North Central zonal congress held on Saturday in Abuja.
He said that both the party leaders and members in the zone must sacrifice individual interest and work in unity to lead PDP in north central and other zones to victory in future elections.
“The North Central use to be the hub and centre of PDP, unfortunately in the 2015 elections we lost and there is no PDP governor in the zone as we speak.
“We have realised our mistakes and we will correct them. Once those mistakes are corrected we will win all our elections.
“So far all the re-run that have been done PDP has won them. I think this is a track record and the only thing left is that we need to work a little more.
“The party must now stand united. Our strength is in our unity and our weakness will be if we divide ourselves and we will not be divided.
“We must subject our individual interest to party interest within the zone. That is the only way we can make progress,’’ Mark said.
He added that what gave him joy was that anytime PDP gathered “there is so much enthusiasm, interest and desires” as Nigerians now realised that “PDP is the right party to be in government.”
“We will exercise patient in any election that is done now and in the next three years I can assure you that PDP will win convincingly,’’ Mark added.
Our correspondent reports that all the new zonal executives of the party were elected by consensus.
Some of the elected zonal executives are Mr Theophilus Shan (Zonal Chairman); Mr Mourice Tsar (Zonal Secretary), and Mr Joel Adagadzu (Zonal Organising Secretary).
Sen. Philip Aduda, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said it was commendable that the party was able to arrive at consensus on all the elected offices.
“This is important as it will put the party on the path of victory in future elections,” Aduda said.
The PDP National Legal Adviser, Mr Victor Kwon, who administered oath of office on the newly elected officials of the zone, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the congress.