The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, inaugurated a 305-member National Campaign Council on Monday for the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State, scheduled for November 16.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will lead the council, with Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris serving as Deputy Chairman 1 and Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu as Deputy Chairman 2. Ovie Omo-Agege, a former Deputy Senate President, has been appointed as the council’s secretary.
During the inauguration held at The Dome in Akure, Ganduje expressed the party’s commitment to winning all six states in the Southwest. He emphasized that with President Bola Tinubu hailing from the region, it is crucial to build robust APC support to ensure electoral victories.
Ganduje stated, “The national campaign council will provide strong synergy to the governor’s campaign council, ensuring our success. By demonstrating our appreciation for President Tinubu’s leadership through electoral wins, we aim to unify the Southwest under the APC.”
He stressed the importance of empowering party members to secure victory in Ondo, adding, “We will mobilize our members to ensure a successful election.”
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the need for an issue-based campaign, affirming the party’s confidence in its candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. He stated, “We will work diligently to ensure a smooth campaign and look forward to celebrating a successful election on November 16.”
Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor and APC candidate, welcomed the formation of the campaign council, calling it a significant boost to the party’s efforts. He expressed confidence that the APC possesses the qualities needed to triumph over other parties in the state.
In a show of unity, state APC chairman Ade Adetimehin emphasized that the party is united in support of Aiyedatiwa, dismissing claims of dissent within its ranks. He stated that opposition parties in the state are becoming increasingly anxious about the APC’s overwhelming support.
Amidst reports of factional discontent within the party, the Ondo State APC refuted claims that certain groups were abandoning Aiyedatiwa to support the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate. The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, labeled the dissenting voices as “faceless” and reiterated Aiyedatiwa’s strong standing among party loyalists.
Otaloro maintained that the APC is focused on an issue-driven campaign, highlighting Aiyedatiwa’s accomplishments and future vision for Ondo State, while rejecting distractions from misleading narratives. He urged the public to prioritize fact-based information as the election approaches.
