The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially launched its campaign structure for the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election, expressing confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji will secure another term in office. The party inaugurated its National Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday, with APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda urging members to leverage their experience and political influence to ensure the party's victory in the election.
Election Schedule and Council Composition
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) timetable, the Ekiti governorship election is scheduled to take place on June 20. The campaign council is chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and includes party leaders, governors, lawmakers, and other stakeholders from across the country.
Chairman's Remarks on Campaign Importance
During the inauguration, Mr. Yilwatda described the assignment as critical to the party's electoral success and commended council members for accepting the responsibility. He stated that the composition of the campaign team reflects the APC's commitment to unity, inclusiveness, and collective participation, expressing confidence that members would strengthen the party's grassroots mobilization and campaign efforts.
According to him, the APC remains well-positioned to retain power in Ekiti, citing the governor's performance record and the party's nationwide political structure. Mr. Yilwatda praised Mr. Oyebanji's administration, describing the governor as one of the party's strongest performers. He pointed to achievements in road construction, social intervention programmes, education, and healthcare as evidence of effective governance.
Personal Assessment of Development Projects
The APC chairman said he had personally visited several projects in the state and was satisfied with the level of development under the current administration. "I was an eyewitness that the government is doing very, very well," he said, stressing that the administration is delivering on its promises through infrastructure development, social protection initiatives, educational support, and improved healthcare services.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Mr. Yilwatda said the governor had succeeded in fostering unity and strengthening social cohesion across the state. Addressing Mr. Oyebanji directly, he said the party was proud to present him to Ekiti voters for a second mandate, insisting that the governor's record in office provided a strong basis for re-election.
Party's Optimism and Broad Support
The APC chairman also expressed optimism about the party's prospects in the poll, arguing that the APC remained the most formidable political platform in the country. He noted that the attendance of governors, members of the National Assembly, and party officials from different geopolitical zones at the inauguration demonstrated the breadth of support available to the governor's campaign.
Mr. Yilwatda described members of the campaign council as committed party loyalists prepared to work towards electoral victory, adding that the APC possessed the organizational capacity, resources, and manpower required to win the election. He also highlighted the inclusion of women, young people, and persons with disabilities in the campaign structure, saying the party was determined to ensure broad participation in the electoral process.
"The women are here, the young people are here, the elderly are here. With all talents and all shared opinions, people who can raise funding down to mobilization at the polling-unit level, we are prepared," he said.
Campaign Financing and Next Steps
On campaign financing, the APC chairman dismissed concerns about funding, expressing confidence that the calibre of leaders and stakeholders involved would provide the support necessary for a successful campaign. The inauguration marks the formal commencement of the APC's preparations for the Ekiti governorship election, with the party seeking to retain control of the state under Mr. Oyebanji.
