The All Progressives Congress has said it considers the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election as second only to the Presidential election in terms of importance.
APC’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, said this while inaugurating the party’s National Campaign Council for the Ekiti governorship election at the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Thursday.
He explained that winning the forthcoming election in the state was crucial, because of the importance the party at the highest level attaches to it.
Shuaibu told members of the 78-member council to avoid hate speech and remain focused.
He said, “Please avoid hate speech; please ensure that we don’t engage in hate speech. Let’s try to get the hearts of the Ekiti people to end the four-year comedy (in the state).
“To us, the importance of the Ekiti State election is slightly below that of a presidential election. We are not going to rest in our efforts to take that state.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, who was represented by his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akerodolu, said members of the committee were fully aware of the importance attached to the election.
He said, “We take this task as very, very important like you have underscored it. This is not the first time; when the South-West (APC leaders) met with Mr. President, he also stressed the importance of this election.
“We have faced a lot of affront as a party. (Ayodele) Fayose has thrown a lot of challenges to us we need to stand together to confront them.”
Earlier, the National Organising Secretary of the APC, Senator Osita Izunaso, said the election was a must win for the APC.
Members of the campaign council are Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi State, Chairman), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara). Others are Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).
Ministers on the list are Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing), Prof. Isaac Adewole (Health), Dr. Chris Ngige (Labour), Munir Dan-Alli (Defence) and Gen. Abdurrahman Danbazzau (Interior).
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Kola Ologbodinya said, “A party that cannot conduct a successful ward congress cannot win a credible election anywhere in Nigeria. Nigerians across the board have abandoned the APC.
“When their candidate was roundly defeated by Governor Ayodele Fayose four years ago, their candidate left the state in a state of near collapse.
“Is it today that the people have seen the projects that Fayose has put on the ground that they will want to go accept a candidate they rejected four years ago?”
