By Adeyinka Adeniran
The leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest geo-politcal zone has predicted resounding victory for its candidates in Oyo and Ogun states.
The assurance is coming on the heels of the August 16 date set aside by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of by-elections to fill the existing vacancies in elective political posts affecting some constituencies in nine states of the federation.
Among the affected constituencies are Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo Oyo state and Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North of Ogun state which became vacant following the death of the two members of the House of Representatives who won individual mandate in 2023 to represent their zones in the Green Chamber.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary in the Southwest, Mr. Ayobami Afolabi, APC recalled that the Nigerian voters made the right choice in 2023 by electing Senator Bola Tinubu as their president and this would be repeated in 2027 in view of the sterling performance of the former Lagos state governor in office so far.
“The two vacant seats of Ibadan North and Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North were both won by the candidates of the APC in 2023 but unfortunately we lost them to the cold hands of death.
“Meanwhile, both Hon. Olayide Akinremi and Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga did perform beyond the expectations of their respective constituents but, as God willed, they could not complete their term in office and this made it imperative for us in the APC to present good replacements who would continue the good work from where they stopped.
“As a matter of fact, the gale of defections involving movement of governors and their deputies as well as federal and state lawmakers from all other political parties into the APC has underpinned the fact that a vote for any candidate of the opposition parties is a waste.
“It is on this note that we are charging voters in the affected federal constituencies in Oyo and Ogun states to show solidarity to President Tinubu and the APC once again if only to serve as an encouragement for the genuine efforts being made by the present administration to rescue the nation from its age-long challenges.
“Nigerians expected a fixer or repairer in President Bola Tinubu but he raised the game the moment he was sworn-in on May 29, 2023 and turned himself into a rebuilder, reinventor and reformer in the interest of the generality of the citizenry and the generations yet unborn.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan as it is real. We have begun to see its manifestation in the key sectors of the nation’s while we still need little patience as well as citizens’ support and cooperation for better results in no time.” Afolabi added.
In another development, the Zonal APC leadership has urged members and other stakeholders of the party in Osun to disregard the rumour of imminent defection of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the APC from his PDP stating that “such a disaster will never befall the progressive fold which is populated by decent and refined personalities”.
“Members of our great Party in Osun should not lose any sleep over the rumour of Gov. Adeleke’s imminent defection into the APC. The governor and his promoters can seek political asylum anywhere but in APC as we have many competent, resourceful and presentable individuals who are poised to dislodge him in 2026 and change the story of Osun state for the better.
“We already have virtually all the best hands in Osun PDP as new members of the APC and we do not need Gov. Adeleke again”, the statement concluded.
