The governor insisted it would be unfair for anybody to blame the President, describing the biting hardship as a global phenomenon not limited to Nigeria.

Uzodimma made the statement when he came on a solidarity visit to the secretariat of the APC in Abuja, to commiserate with the National Chairman of the ruling party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, over the loss of his mother-in-law.

He was accompanied by Governors Bassey Otu of Cross River, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo and Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti.

He said, “We don’t need to overflog the horse. The truth of the matter is that the APC has done very well in Nigeria. What is happening currently is a global economic problem. President Bola Tinubu is also bringing out policies to ensure that, given the kind of economy and situation he met on the ground, he has started the treatment.

“By the grace of God, I am very confident that very soon, Nigerians will be jubilant about how he has managed to navigate the waters.

“We have to visit the secretariat to be in touch with the leadership of the party, national chairman and members of the National Working Committee and, above all, to commiserate with him who just lost his mother-in-law; and also show solidarity with the chairman and managers of our party.”

The PGF chairman expressed optimism that the APC would wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party-led government in Edo State at the September 21 governorship election.

The governor also disclosed that some of the APC governors would also monitor the polls in Edo and Ondo states to show solidarity for their governorship candidates.

He said, “Of course you know, I am the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. When I speak, I speak on behalf of my colleagues, the 20 governors and a party like APC that controls 20 of the 36 states. If an election is a game of numbers, it means the majority will win.

“For instance, on the 20th of this month, the national campaign council will be inaugurated in Edo State and it is expected that most of us, the members of the Progressives Governors Forum, will be in attendance. Which other party can provide or boast of such an asset, politically speaking?”

Ganduje welcomed the delegation, saying he felt honoured by their visit.

“There is no doubt that we are highly delighted when we got the information that they (governors) are coming. So, I think it is a blessing to us. We have confidence in them.

“We will do all it takes to ensure that we maintain good relationships with our governors all over the country and help to protect their interests. There is no doubt that they are also assisting the party and making us proud as an institution,” he said.

According to INEC, Uzodimma has scored a total of 429, 518 votes across the 20 LGAs so far announced by the electoral umpire.

The LGAs announced are Oru West, Owerri North, Obowo, Nwangele, Orsu, Owerri Municipal, Okigwe, Ideato South, Onuimo, Ngor Okpala, Oru East, Isu, Nkwere, Ahiazu Mbaise, Owerri West, Isiala Mbano, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Oguta, Aboh Mbaise and Njaba.

The results from the remaining seven LGAs are being awaited.

Imo state has a total of 27 LGAs.

The Retuning officer for the election, prof Abayomi Fasina, who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Oye, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti state announced a 30-minute brake to enable some LGA Retuning officers to reconcile their results.

It was gathered that the meeting, which would hold eight weeks after the governors met in Asaba, the Delta State capital, would further assess decisions taken in Asaba on the open grazing ban, restructuring, fiscal federalism and the call for state police.

The governors would be hosted by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the meeting which would start by 10 am today (Monday).

Aside from the host governor, others expected at the meeting are Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Diri Duoye (Bayelsa), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Oluwaseyi Makinde (Oyo), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).