The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, has boasted that the party will “capture” the South-West by winning the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
Mr Ganduje stated this when he led members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC to a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital, on Sunday.
The former Kano State governor said the ruling party was working very hard to have all six states under the progressive fold.
He, therefore, vowed to ensure the APC takes over PDP-led Oyo and Osun States, in order to boost President Bola Tinubu’s support ahead of the 2027 general election.
While calling on the stakeholders to rally round the APC candidate and the incumbent Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr Ganduje said he would not reveal its winning strategy.
“In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 percent in favour of APC. Therefore, Ondo State, you must be the forefront of 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.
Mr Ganduje also pleaded with the party’s aspirants who contested the governorship ticket with Mr Aiyedatiwa 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,” he added.
The chairman of the campaign council and governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the party could not afford to lose Ondo to the opposition parties, stressing that all warring factions must set aside their differences and support Mr 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.
“Nobody should be left behind because all of you are important to the delivery of our victory in the coming election. This gathering is to embrace all of us and for all of us to agree.
“This message of unity must go around the 18 LGAs of the state. Mr. President is fully aware of what we are doing here, and he has given his consent to this.
“When we come together, we are even bigger than whatever force that wants to come within. We need everybody in that train in respect of our difference. It is the reason why we need to work together as one.”
