The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that moves have begun on how the party will capture Oyo and Osun States ahead of the 2027 general election.

While disclosing that the ruling party has been calculating and strategising on how to return the entire southwest states into the APC fold, the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, stated that the zone being that of President Bola Tinubu will deliver 100 per cent.

Ganduje revealed this at the weekend during a meeting of the APC Southwest Governor’s Forum with the stakeholders of the party in Ondo State ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

According to the National Chairman of the party, who announced the governor for Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the Chairman of the National Campaign Council of the party in Ondo State, the party must secure 90 per cent of the votes for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, stressing that winning the state is critical for subsequent elections in the geopolitical zone.

He said, “In this geopolitical zone (Southwest), you must deliver 100 per cent in favour of APC; therefore, Ondo State, you must be at the forefront. For the two other states (Oyo and Osun States), I will not reveal our secret, but we assure you, we are calculating, we are examining, and we are strategising. Everything must be 100 per cent for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The party is solidly behind you. We have made every arrangement at the national level to have a successful election. We are here to give you hope, encourage you, and say that this election is a task that must be done. We are encouraged by this large crowd of stakeholders.

“There is unity, solidarity, and vigour in the party. Those who contested the primary are not losers because there is no victory or defeat in the exercise. We are expecting 90 per cent total votes in the forthcoming governorship election. Visit house to house, neighbour to neighbour, and ensure that you go around and mobilise people to come out to vote. Ondo State must be at the forefront in winning in the zone.”

Sanwo-Olu, who is the Chairman of the Southwest Governor’s Forum, disclosed that the entire party formation decided to storm the state in order to rally all stakeholders to ensure the victory of the party at the poll.

The Lagos State Governor, who urged the aggrieved aspirants who contested the ticket of the party with Aiyedatiwa to put the part behind them, stated that “none of you will be left behind; nobody will be taken for granted. All of you are important, strategic, and critical to the delivery of our election on November 16.

On his part, the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, stated that “November 16 is a defining moment in our history as a state and as a zone. Winning in Ondo State with a landslide is achievable. On November 16, we have a duty with history.”

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who appealed to the leaders of the party to work for the success of the party, assured the aspirants who lost the ticket that the reconciliation will still continue after the election.

Meanwhile, Wale Akinteriwa and Olusola Oke assured that the party is supreme, hence they will work for the emergence of Aiyedatiwa at the poll, adding that they can never leave the party for opposition.

The former secretary to the state government, Oladunni Odu, who was also an aspirant, stated that she had been bruised but assured the leadership of the party that she had moved forward.

With the State Chairman of the party, Adetimehin, stressing that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had been balkanised in the state, the National Vice Chairman, Southwest of the party, Isaac Kekemeke, stated that the PDP no longer viable in the state.

On his part, Aiyedatiwa appreciated the leadership of the party for the meeting, emphasising that the party will emerge victorious at the poll.