By Excellence Oseose
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, declaring that winning the poll is a strategic priority and a crucial test of the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the inauguration, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described the Osun governorship election as the party’s “litmus test” ahead of the 2027 polls, expressing confidence that the APC possesses the human and political resources required to reclaim the state.
Yilwatda said the campaign council was carefully constituted with members drawn from across the country, including governors, members of the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, deputy governors, former governors, former lawmakers, business leaders and other party stakeholders to ensure effective mobilisation and coordination.
According to him, no political party in Nigeria can match the APC in terms of experienced political leaders and grassroots structures.
“If there is any political party in Nigeria that has human resources in abundance, it is the APC. We have the most experienced politicians, governors, National Assembly members, local government chairmen, councillors, former governors and former lawmakers. We also have leaders who have joined us from other political parties, bringing even more experience to our fold,” he said.
The APC National Chairman stressed that the party has the capacity to win elections at every level, from councillorship to the presidency, adding that the Osun governorship poll would serve as a rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.
“This is the last governorship election before the 2027 general election. It will measure our level of preparedness for 2027. Winning the Osun election is a must for the APC,” he declared.
Yilwatda disclosed that following the inauguration, the party would embark on extensive grassroots mobilisation across Osun State, involving governors, lawmakers, local government officials and party members from across the federation in door-to-door and person-to-person campaigns.
He also charged the Directorate of Women Affairs to intensify efforts in mobilising women across the state, describing them as critical to the party’s electoral success.
After administering the inauguration, Yilwatda expressed confidence in the calibre of personalities appointed into the campaign council, describing them as “political heavyweights” capable of delivering victory for the party.
“I therefore declare this Campaign Council inaugurated,” he announced.
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated council, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, thanked the APC leadership for the confidence reposed in members and pledged that the council would justify the trust placed in it.
Uzodimma described the assignment as a solemn responsibility requiring sacrifice, discipline and measurable results, assuring that every member of the council would work collectively to secure victory for the APC.
“Our assignment is clear: to listen to the people of Osun State, earn their confidence and convince them to vote for the APC and our governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO,” he said.
He noted that the APC campaign would be issue-based, evidence-driven and peaceful, anchored on the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the performance of APC administrations across the country.
The Imo governor further pledged that the council would engage voters across communities, wards and polling units, including workers, farmers, market women, artisans, professionals, youths, traditional rulers, religious leaders and persons with disabilities.
He also assured that the party would conduct a peaceful campaign, insisting that no political ambition was worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“Our campaign will be vigorous without violence, competitive without bitterness and confident without arrogance. We will answer falsehood with facts, propaganda with performance and provocation with peace,” Uzodimma said.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to delivering what he described as a decisive, peaceful and credible victory for the APC and its governorship candidate in the August 15 election.
“The work begins now. The standard is excellence. The method is peace. The destination is victory,” he added.