The Young Progressive Party, YPP, Ebonyi chapter, has inaugurated a new 21-member caretaker State Executive Committee, SEC, to guide the party’s affairs over the next six months.

Led by Mercy Nwaogbala, the committee was sworn in at a ceremony in Abakaliki following approval by the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC,. 

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sunday Opoke, who contested as the YPP’s gubernatorial candidate in the state’s 2023 election and serves as the party’s leader in Ebonyi, encouraged the newly appointed officials to embrace their roles with a sense of duty. 

He stressed the importance of prioritizing the party’s collective goals, including establishing the YPP as a dynamic opposition force gearing up for the 2027 elections.

Opoke also advised the committee members to refrain from activities that could undermine the party’s unity and progress.

”Such activities will not be tolerated, as they will constitute a gross violation of the party’s constitution.”

He emphasised that the party must strategise to take power in order to provide credible leadership to the people of Ebonyi.

He said, “If you must take power, you must strategise; you must be dynamic and play with all your intelligence. 

“Taking power is not easy but it becomes easy when men are committed.

“I believe that the men gathered here are committed, and come 2027, they will lead Ebonyi through YPP. We are not saying that to impress you; already, we are aware that they are having issues here and there.

The reason we are trying to address leadership issues early enough is so that we will not behave like them because we want to be sure that when people come to us, they are coming to us because we are mature.

“When they are coming to us, they are coming because we are capable and have the potential and capabilities to take power.

“So, if we do not express such capacity, then we are not doing party business; that is why, as you have been inaugurated today, to whom much is given, much is expected.”

Opoke pledged the support and loyalty of the members to the new leadership, urging them to stay committed to their new assignment.

Meanwhile, Nwogbala, in an acceptance speech on behalf of the members of the SEC, pledged to move the party to the next level while  appealing for support and solidarity to enable the committee to succeed.

She noted that the duty of an opposition party was to make the ruling party, through a constructive and virile opposition, deliver good and credible governance anchored on democratic tenets.

She said that YPP, under her watch, would not antagonise the ruling party in the state but serve as a watchdog to ensure that the principles of natural justice and rule of law were upheld at all times by the government.

Nwogbala, while assessing the performance of the Governor Francis Nwifuru-led state administration, appreciated the governor for achieving a lot within his one year in office.

She, however, urged the governor to pay attention to grassroots social and infrastructural developments and also create job opportunities for the youth.

“As the chairman of this party, I will make sure that I and my team move the party forward to the best of our ability.

”I will do my best to ensure that YPP will produce the next governor of the state in 2027. All we ask for is your support and solidarity.

“We, as the opposition, will not engage in needless criticism of the ruling party but we will constantly serve as a watchdog so as to keep them on their toes to offer good governance and credible leadership.

“Many youths who are graduates in various disciplines engage in commercial motorcycle and tricycle riding; this has to be addressed,”  Nwogbala said.