The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, describing the poll as a crucial rehearsal and litmus test for the party’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the ruling party had assembled an array of experienced politicians and stakeholders to spearhead an aggressive grassroots campaign aimed at securing victory for its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).
Yilwatda said the council comprises serving and former governors, members of the National Assembly, Federal Executive Council members, deputy governors, party leaders, business leaders and other stakeholders, reflecting the party’s depth of political experience and organisational strength.
“If there is any political party in Nigeria that has human resources in abundance, it is the APC. If there is any political party that has the most experienced politicians in Nigeria, it is the APC,” he declared.
He said the Osun governorship election would serve as the party’s final major electoral test before the 2027 general election.
“This will be our litmus test. It will measure our level of preparedness for 2027. This will be our practice ground. It will be our rehearsal for the political machine we are preparing for 2027,” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman disclosed that the party would deploy its governors, lawmakers, local government chairmen, councillors and other political leaders for intensive grassroots mobilisation across Osun State through person-to-person and house-to-house campaigns.
He also assigned a strategic role to the party’s women wing, saying women would drive voter mobilisation at the grassroots, while expressing confidence that the calibre of leaders on the campaign council would guarantee victory at the polls.
“The people standing here are men and women of great political strength who can withstand any political party in Osun State,” he said before formally inaugurating the council.
Responding on behalf of the council, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Campaign Council, Senator Hope Uzodimma, described the assignment as a solemn responsibility, assuring the party leadership that members would work tirelessly to deliver victory.
“This is a collective responsibility. Every member of this council, every leader, every member of our party and every progressive stakeholder has a vital role to play. There can be no spectator in a mission of this importance,” Uzodimma said.
He pledged that the council would run an issue-based, evidence-driven and peaceful campaign anchored on the achievements of the APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s record in governance.
“We will answer falsehood with facts. We will respond to insults with discipline, propaganda with performance and provocation with peace,” he stated.
Uzodimma also assured that the APC would pursue a peaceful, free and credible election, insisting that no political ambition was worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“Our campaign will be vigorous without violence, competitive without bitterness and confident without arrogance. We shall conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Omoluabi ethos of Osun State,” he added.
In his remarks, the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, thanked President Bola Tinubu and the party leadership for their support, expressing confidence that the APC was well-positioned to reclaim Osun State.
He said the party had intensified consultations with traditional rulers, market leaders, artisans, professionals, students, women, youths and other stakeholders across the state since he emerged as the party’s candidate.
According to him, the APC’s campaign structure now covers the state’s three senatorial districts, nine federal constituencies, 26 state constituencies, 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,762 polling units.
“The people of Osun State are ready. The Osun APC is ready. Our campaign is ready. Together, we will win. Together, we will rescue Osun. Together, we will build a prosperous and sustainable Osun State,” Oyebamiji said.
