By Kolawole Ojebisi
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has reiterated the party’s is plan to win over the whole southwest geo-political zone.
Ganduje noted that nothing can stop the APC from taking the reins of power from occupants of the seats of power in Oyo and Osun which are the two remaining states where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reigns in the southwest region.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as winner of the just concluded Ondo election, Ganduje said he was happy that the people of Ondo State showed their love for the ruling party through their votes.
He said the election was free, fair and credible. He thanked the electoral body, security agencies, media and Civil Society Organisations for their contribution towards the success of the exercise.
“There is no doubt this is a moment of joy. Seeing is believing and this is democracy in action. But what is more important is that all the major stakeholders believe that the election was free, fair and credible, especially INEC who provided the logistics arrangement and manpower.”
“The police, DSS, Civil Defence, military, the media, international organisations, international observers. Almost everybody believes that this election is free, fair and credible and what is important to the people of Ondo state is that since they elected APC, they elected our candidate, there would be continuity in government. There would be no abandonment of projects. There would be sustainability of programmes/projects…
“Our next target in the South West Geopolitical zone is Osun and Oyo states. You know we are good at hitting the target. We will do what is possible to bring them into the fold so that we can have more political opportunity in the South West Geopolitical zone.”
During a stakeholders’ meeting in Ondo last month, Ganduje had said the ruling party was working very hard to take over the entire South West region ahead of the 2027 general election.
He stressed that both Oyo and Osun states should also be under the direct control of the APC to boost President Bola Tinubu’s support, especially in the south.
He added: “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,” he had said.
However, the PDP did not take the remark lying down as it fired back at the ruling party saying its National Chairman’s words reek of totalitarianism and antithetical to democratic ethos.
Recall that former president Olusegun Obasanji blamed the successive administrations of the APC for the awful state of the nation on Saturday.
Obasanjo stressed that the country has been captured by the political elites presiding over it.
