APC Unveils Osun Campaign Council, Positions Governorship Poll as Final Rehearsal for 2027

Jane Salihu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the August 15 Osun State governorship election, describing the poll as the party’s final political rehearsal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party had assembled a formidable team of experienced political leaders to coordinate its campaign and deliver victory for its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).

According to Yilwatda, the council comprises serving and former governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, deputy governors, local government officials, party leaders and other stakeholders whose experience would be deployed to secure victory for the APC in Osun State.

He described the Osun election as more than a governorship contest, saying it would provide the party with an opportunity to test its political machinery ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“This election is our litmus test and our rehearsal for 2027. It will measure our level of preparedness as we continue to strengthen the political structure of our great party across the country,” he said.

The APC chairman maintained that the ruling party remained the most experienced political platform in Nigeria, with the capacity and human resources to win elections at every level.

He disclosed that the party would deploy governors, federal and state lawmakers, local government chairmen, councillors and party officials across Osun State to drive an aggressive grassroots campaign through house-to-house and person-to-person engagement in all communities and polling units.

Yilwatda also assigned a central role to the party’s women wing, urging it to intensify mobilisation efforts among women and youths to boost voter participation ahead of the election.

Expressing confidence in the composition of the council, he said its members possessed the political strength and experience required to return the APC to power in Osun State.

Responding on behalf of the council, Chairman of the Campaign Council and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in the members and assured that they would justify the responsibility placed on them.

He described the assignment as a collective mission requiring the commitment of every APC stakeholder, pledging that the council would conduct an issue-based, evidence-driven and peaceful campaign anchored on the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Uzodimma said the campaign would engage every segment of society, including workers, farmers, market women, artisans, professionals, youths, traditional rulers, religious leaders and persons with disabilities across the state’s communities, local government areas, wards and polling units.

He assured that the APC would promote peaceful participation throughout the electioneering process, stressing that the party would counter misinformation with facts and performance rather than hostility.

“Our campaign will be vigorous without violence, competitive without bitterness and confident without arrogance. We will organise, mobilise and deliver victory through lawful and democratic means,” he stated.

Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership for constituting what he described as a high-calibre campaign council.

Oyebamiji said the party had continued to take its message of prosperity, good governance and inclusive development to every part of Osun State, engaging traditional rulers, civil servants, market associations, artisans, students, women and youth groups.

He noted that the APC was recording increasing support across the state’s three senatorial districts, 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,762 polling units.

Expressing confidence in the party’s chances, the APC candidate said the people of Osun were ready for the return of progressive governance, pledging to work closely with members of the campaign council to secure victory in the August 15 governorship election.