From Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

Two ministers – Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation) and Timipre Sylva (Minister of State, Petroleum Resources) – have agreed to work together to reposition the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Southsouth.

They took the position on Monday at a parley at the APC Abuja National Secretariat with the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CENCPC).

The duo walked out of the meeting with a resolve to unite and strengthen the party in their geo-political zone.

Amaechi and Sylva, who were governors in Rivers and Bayesla states, spoke with reporters after a closed door meeting with Buni.

The Transport Minister, who arrived at the party Secretariat around 1:15pm, left after few minutes only to return with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee to join the Minister of State for Petroleum at about 2pm.

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The frosty relationship between the two Southsouth leaders have impacted negative on the party’s fortune in the region.

A source at the meeting said the Caretaker Committee Chairman charged the ministers to work together and lead the party’s efforts to reconcile aggrieved party members and reposition the APC, particularly in the SouthSouth.

It was learnt that the chairman also charged the ministers to team up with other leaders and stakeholders in the region ahead of the governorship elections in Niger Delta states of Edo and Ondo as well as legislative by-elections in Bayelsa and Cross River states to ensure victory for the party and its candidates.

Amaechi, who was accompanied by the former governor, Sylva, said: “We have agreed that both of us will work together.”

Confirming the meeting in a statement, the APC deputy national spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said the chairman charged the ministers to play lead roles in bringing together party members and stakeholders to reposition the APC for victory at the pending polls.

Nabeba described the outcome of the meeting as “another solid milestone in the achievement of the mandate given to the Governor Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee to reconcile party members and reposition the party.”