By Kolawole Ojebisi
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has declared that the ruling party will capture the entire South-Western states starting the upcoming Ondo governorship election.
The Ondo State governorship election slated for November 16 is one of the off-cycle elections in the country.
Ganduje made this claim while speaking in Ondo State on Sunday when he led members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital,.
The former Kano State governor said the APC will wrest the reins of power from those at the helm in other states who are members of a party other than APC.
He, however, stressed the strategy to be deployed will be kept under wraps.
As of now, the APC is calling the shots in four of the six states constituting the Southwest region, while the governors elected on the platform of PDP are at the helm in the remaining two.
Adeleke Ademola of Osun State was elected on the platform of PDP likewise Seyi Makinde of the neighbouring Oyo State.
Speaking at the meeting, Ganduje said the ruling party is working very hard to ensure it spread its tentacles ahead of the 2027 general election.
He noted that taking over control of these two states will boost the reelection bid of President Bola Tinubu, who is from the region, in 2027.
Ganduje urged leaders of the APC to close ranks and ensure unity among members and followers of the party to ensure the strategy comes to fruition.
He said the governorship election in Ondo is a walkover for the APC, adding that all the leaders at the national level have thrown their support for incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 percent in favour of APC. Therefore, Ondo State, you must be the forefrontl the two other states – Oyo and Osun – we will capture them, but I will not reveal our secret. We are strategising. Everything must be 100 per cent behind President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In this coming election, we are solidly behind Governor Aiyedatiwa. We have made arrangements at the national level to have a successful election and I announce Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Chairman National Campaign Council.
“This election is a task that must be done. We are encouraged by this large crowd of stakeholders. It shows there is unity, solidarity, and vigour in the party. We are expecting 90 percent votes in the forthcoming governorship election. You have to visit house to house. Neighbour to neighbour and ensure that people come out to vote,” he said.
Ganduje, however, pleaded with the party’s aspirants who contested the governorship ticket with Aiyedatiwa at the primaries to sheathe their sword and rally behind the governor in November election.
“Let me remind those who contested the primary election with Aiyedatiwa that are not losers because there is no victor, no vanquish in the exercise.”
On his part, Sanwo-Olu said the party becomes stronger when the people come together in unity.
He stated that the party could not afford to lose Ondo to the opposition parties, arguing that all warring factions must set aside their differences and support Aiyedatiwa in the election.
“The entire party formation has come to Ondo to appreciate you. You may have gone through turbulent time and feel aggrieved, but it is more important that we come together again as one.”
The APC National Chairman, Ganduje, was joined by Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who was represented by Ogun state Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Talabi Olatokunbo.
Others included Isaac Kekemeke (APC, Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Ajibola Bashiru; (APC National Secretary), Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, among prominent members of the party in the Southwest region.
The last time all the governors in the Southwest belonged to the same party was in 1999 during the first civilian tenure that marked the country’s return to democracy after years of military rule.
All the Southwest governors were elected on the platform of Alliance For Democracy (AD) and they served from 1999-2003.
