*As Ekiti APC prepares for September State Congress
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has charged leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to remain united and mobilise total support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election
The Governor gave the charge on Monday at an APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti, where an eight-member committee was set up to oversee preparations for the ward, local government and State congresses scheduled for September this year.
The committee is headed by Chief Alaba Abejide, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission.
Addressing the stakeholders at the meeting , Governor Oyebanji explained that the congress would be crucial to the party’s preparation for the December local government election, as well as the 2027 general elections. He urged the stakeholders to embrace unity and inclusivity with a view to stabilizing and strengthening the party at the grassroots.
The Governor stressed that the forthcoming congresses must be handled in a manner that would accommodate all interests within the party, noting that a peaceful, transparent and inclusive process would further strengthen the APC at the grassroots and fortify the stability which the party currently enjoys in the state.
While commending the leaders and members of the party for their collective efforts and unity that produced victory for the part in the June 20 governorship election, the Governor said the congresses must be conducted in a way that would position the party for victories in successive elections beyond 2030.
Governor Oyebanji said “we have broken the jinx of consecutive tenure, we have to break another jinx when I leave in 2030, another APC person must emerge and the foundation for that is this congresses.
“This congress has implication for a lot of things; it has implication for the local government election in December, it has implication for the presidential and the national and state assembly in January and febuary respectively. We have a tradition that have worked for us and that is what we are still going to follow. The leaders must do everything to ensure that we have a strong party that will in another four years produce another governor.”
Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji said he had absolute confidence in Chief Abejide’s ability to do a good job.
“Once again I appeal to us all that we need to give our best to our President, he has been so good to us, he has been extremely supportive and this is the only opportunity to say thank you”, he added.
Earlier in his remarks, APC State Chairman, Mr Sola Elesin congratulated the Governor on his re-election, describing the victory as historic as it marked the breaking of the jinx of a sitting Governor securing second term in office in Ekiti state
The Chairman commended party leaders and members for their commitment and contributions, which he said were instrumental to the overwhelming victory secured at the pool. He urged them to sustain the momentum by ensuring a massive turnout of voters in the subsequent elections, stressing that the party must remain focused and committed to mobilizing the electorate particularly ahead of the 2027 general election.
Also in his remarks, former Governor Segun Oni, who stressed the need for all stakeholders to rejig their strategies and strengthen their mobilization efforts ahead of the forthcoming presidential election, urged them to focus on increasing voter turnout by deepening grassroots engagement and ensuring that supporters are adequately mobilized to participate in the election.
Also present at the event were, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro, Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, and Leaders of the Party across the state.
