APC poised to take over south-west states, says Ganduje

Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed confidence that the party will secure victory in all six states within the south-west geopolitical zone. Ganduje made the declaration during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by key figures of the APC, including Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

The gathering comes ahead of the upcoming Ondo governorship election scheduled for November 16, where Aiyedatiwa is the party’s flagbearer.

Currently, the APC controls four states in the south-west — Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, and Ogun — while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds Oyo and Osun. Ganduje, however, hinted at the party’s strategy to win over the remaining two states but stopped short of revealing specific plans.

“In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 percent in favour of the APC; therefore, Ondo State must be at the forefront,” Ganduje said. “The two other states — I will not reveal our secret, but we assure you, we are strategising. Everything must be 100 percent behind President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Addressing aggrieved party members in Ondo, Ganduje urged unity and commitment, calling for a collective effort to ensure the party’s success in the forthcoming election.

He announced that Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu would chair the national campaign council for the Ondo governorship race.

“We have made every arrangement at the national level to have a successful election. We are here to give you hope and to encourage you that this election is a task that must be done,” he said.

The national chairman noted the large turnout at the meeting as a sign of party unity and strength, adding that those who contested the primary should not see themselves as losers.

“There is no victor and vanquished in the exercise. We are expecting 90 percent total votes in the forthcoming governorship election. Visit house to house, neighbour to neighbour, and ensure you mobilise people to come out and vote.”