… Targets one million votes for APC

The Progressive Mandate Forum (PMF) has directed its members to intensify grassroots mobilisation across all 18 local council areas of Ondo State, disclosing that one million votes will be delivered for President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

This was stated by the forum’s state chairman, Chief Demola Ijabiyi, during an inaugural address on Wednesday at the simultaneous inauguration meetings of the forum’s local government chapters held across the state.

Ijabiyi disclosed that the forum, sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was established to unite political leaders and supporters under one statewide structure to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election and other APC candidates.

He explained that the initiative was intended to harmonise the activities of various support groups, prevent fragmentation and ensure that members worked collectively towards their shared political objectives.

According to him, the forum would remain active beyond the 2027 general elections, particularly during the 2028 Ondo State governorship election, as part of efforts to build a lasting political structure.

Ijabiyi urged members to establish effective structures at the local government, ward and polling-unit levels, with each local government chapter having a presiding officer and secretary, while ward representatives would serve as coordinators responsible for community engagement and mobilisation.

He also announced plans to appoint local government and ward overseers to supervise activities, monitor progress, guide chapter officers and ensure accountability in the management of funds.

The chairman called on the leaders to work together, resolve disagreements amicably and ensure that all levels of the organisation remained functional. He urged members to promote teamwork and cooperate with the APC’s recognised structures.

On membership expansion, Ijabiyi encouraged members to reach beyond existing APC supporters by engaging friends, neighbours and community associations to attract more people to the party.

Addressing voter apathy, he directed each local government chapter to work towards an 80 per cent turnout among registered voters.

He urged members to identify factors discouraging eligible voters from participating in elections and develop practical strategies to address them.

Ijabiyi said each local government should determine its contribution to the one-million-vote target based on registered voter figures and polling-unit distribution.

He directed chapter leaders to prepare measurable mobilisation plans with specific targets, assigned responsibilities and regular assessments.

The chairman urged the newly selected presiding officers, secretaries and ward coordinators, appealing to them to develop practical mobilisation plans for their respective areas.

With Ebenezer Ogunrinde appointed as presiding officer of the PMF in Akure South Local Council Area, alongside other chapter officers, he pledged to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu and other APC candidates through effective engagement at the ward and polling-unit levels.

He described the PMF as an independent political campaign group established to complement the APC rather than compete with the party or its leadership, stressing the need for cooperation with its recognised structures.

“Our role is to complement and support our party, the APC, not to compete with the party or its leadership at any level. We will work in harmony with the party’s structures, respect its leadership and contribute positively to our shared political objectives,” Ogunrinde said.

Meanwhile, the secretary of a new organisation coordinating pro-Tinubu support groups, Ademuyiwa Adejaye, said the initiative was aimed at bringing together groups established to support the President and ensuring that they worked collectively towards their common goal.