The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has boasted that his party would “capture” the remaining states in the South West that it is not controlling.
He said his position would be consolidated after the party has won the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State.
Ganduje said this when he led members of the National Working Committee of the APC to a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday.
The former Kano State governor, who asked members of the party to queue behind the incumbent, who is also the party’s candidate for the governorship election, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said: “In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 percent in favour of APC.
“Therefore, Ondo State, you must be at the forefront.
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“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 percent 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.”
At the stakeholders meeting that had in attendance Governor Sanwo-Olu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Talabi Olatokunbo, Ganduje pleaded with the party’s aspirants who contested the governorship ticket with Aiyedatiwa to sheath their sword and rally behind him in the November election.
He said: “Let me remind those who contested the primary election with Aiyedatiwa that they are not losers because there is no victor, no vanquish in the exercise.”
Sanwo-Olu said a party becomes stronger when the people come together in unity.
He said: “The entire party formation has come to Ondo to appreciate you.
“You may have gone through a 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 no matter our differences.
“It is the reason why we need to work together as one.”
Others at the stakeholders meeting included Isaac Kekemeke, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South; Senator Ajibola Bashiru, APC National Secretary; and Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele.