Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has said it will be shameful if the state All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council cannot deliver 90 per cent of the votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Oyebanji said this on Friday in Ado-Ekiti during the inauguration of the 157-member Ekiti State APC Presidential Campaign Council.
He urged members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council to intensify grassroots mobilisation and voter tracking.
The governor, who chairs the council, said its responsibilities should extend beyond organising rallies and political campaigns.
He urged members to identify registered voters who abstained from previous elections and persuade them to participate in the 2027 polls.
Oyebanji said the party’s political strength and experience in Ekiti should translate into stronger electoral performance for Tinubu.
He cited his 85.7 per cent victory in the June 20, 2026 governorship election as a benchmark.
“With the calibre of people we have here, it will be a shame on all of us if we cannot pull 90 per cent.
“If we could pull 85.7 per cent in the governorship election, the least we can do for the President is 90 per cent,” he said.
Oyebanji, however, identified low voter turnout as a major challenge, in spite of Ekiti having more than one million registered voters.
He disclosed that fewer than 400,000 people participated in the June 20 governorship election.
The governor said the disparity highlighted the need to prioritise voter participation ahead of the presidential election.
He directed the council to identify non-voters, establish why they stayed away, and develop strategies to encourage their participation.
“Our major work, as far as I am concerned, is not campaigning. Our major work is to identify those that opted out and did not come out to vote in June and bring them out.
“Anything other than that, we are wasting our time,” he said.
He said the council would adopt a systematic approach involving voters’ registers and identifying eligible voters across polling units, wards, and local government areas.
Speaking on behalf of the council, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele pledged members’ commitment to achieving the governor’s target.
Bamidele described the assignment as achievable, citing the APC’s political experience, organisational capacity, and grassroots structures.
He commended Oyebanji for ensuring an inclusive composition of the council.
Bamidele also said the governor’s recent re-election had provided the party with valuable experience and momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Earlier, Ekiti APC Chairman Sola Elesin said the council was established to galvanise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Elesin urged members to demonstrate commitment, dedication, and responsibility in delivering the party’s electoral objectives.
He expressed confidence that Ekiti would rank among the states delivering the highest number of votes for Tinubu in 2027. (NAN)
