The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has boasted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will capture the South-West geopolitical zone in the next round of elections.
Ganduje who also urged all aggrieved governorship aspirants in the Ondo State governorship primary to close rank ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state, noted that the state must be at the forefront in winning the zone.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Sunday, the APC national chairman said, “In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 per cent in favour of APC, therefore, Ondo State, you must be at the forefront.”
Ganduje who led other National Working Committee members of the party to the important meeting, disclosed that the party will not reveal its secret in winning the other two remaining states in the next off-cycle governorship elections.
According to him, “The two other states, I will not reveal our secret but we assure you, we are strategising. Everything must be 100 percent behind President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
While calling on the party leaders in the state to unite behind the incumbent governor and the candidate of the party in the November 16 governorship election, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ganduje announced the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwolu as the Chairman National Campaign Council of the party for the election.
His words: “We have made every arrangement at the national level to have a successful election. We are here to give you hope, encourage you, and that this election is a task that must be done. We are encouraged by this large crowd of stakeholders.
“This shows that there is unity, solidarity, and vigor in the party. Those who contested the primary are not losers because there is no victor and vanquish in the exercise.
“We are expecting 90 per cent total votes in the forthcoming governorship election. Visit house to house, neighbour to neighbour, and ensure that you go round and mobilise people to come out to vote.”
Earlier, Governor Sanwolu who led other governors and leaders of the party in the zone to the meeting, appealed to aggrieved leaders and aspirants of the party to forget the past and work for the success of the party in the forthcoming poll.
Sanwolu said, “Regardless of our differences, everybody must come together. We need everybody to get on the bus. The entire party formation has come to unite this family. We are here to tell you that none of you will be left behind.
“Nobody will be taken for granted. You are critical to the delivery of the forthcoming governorship election. The gathering is to embrace all of us. It is for all of us to agree.”
Also, the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, reminded the stakeholders that the forthcoming governorship election will be the first election to be conducted under the leadership of President Tinubu in the zone.
According to him, “November 16th is a defining moment for us as a zone. This election would be the first election to be conducted under the leadership of President Tinubu, the first election after the demise of Arakunrin Akeredolu. So, we must preserve what he had worked and laboured for. Do this for the President, do this for history, and do this for prosperity.”
Also, Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who also charged the leaders to forget the past said, “The election is very important to us. The reconciliation will continue after the election. Unfortunately for PDP, they don’t have anybody to be their candidate except our person. This reconciliation will continue after the election and he will come back.”
Responding, one of the aspirants, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, pledged to spend his resources to ensure that the party wins the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Akinterinwa who noted that it is in the best interest of the party members that Governor Aiyedatiwa wins the poll, noted that he remained a committed member of the party contrary to insinuations that he had dumped the party.
In the same vein, Chief Olusola Oke, also assured, “Our party will be victorious. We are leaders, we are democrats. We will support our party. We have put the past behind us.”