APC’ll deploy machinery to win 2027 elections — Yilwatda

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has revealed that the ruling party will deploy political machinery to win the 2027 general elections in all localities.

He boasted that the APC has the machinery, the will, and the capacity to win elections in every part of the country, from councillorship to local government, National Assembly, State Assemblies, governorship, and ultimately the presidential election in 2027.

He also declared that the August 15 Osun State off-cycle governorship election is not only a must-win for the APC but will serve as a dress rehearsal for next year’s general elections.

The ruling party’s boss likened next month’s Osun governorship poll to a trailer facing a tricycle, popularly called Keke Napep, in a devastating head-on collision, urging members of the newly inaugurated National Campaign Council to mobilise human and financial resources, coordinate party members, and storm Osun in large numbers to ensure victory during the poll.

In his remarks at the inauguration of the APC National Campaign Council in Abuja on Tuesday, Yilwatda said: “The APC has all it takes to win elections in Nigeria from councillorship to local government, National Assembly, House of Assembly, governorship, and ultimately the presidential election in 2027.”

“Looking at the calibre of people we have selected in this room from the governors to members of the National Assembly, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and all the committees represented here, nothing will stop us from taking over the Government House on August 15, 2026.

“With this assurance and confidence, I stand here proud and privileged to head a party that has the machinery, the will, and the capacity to win elections at all levels. Today’s exercise is one of our major tests. Coming to the South-West, this is the last governorship election before the 2027 general election. This will be our litmus test. It will measure our level of preparedness for 2027.

“This will be our practice ground. It will be our rehearsal for the political machine we are preparing for 2027. That is why winning the Osun election is a must for the APC. The party will mobilise resources, coordinate our people, and move into Osun in large numbers after this inauguration,” he said.

Explaining further, he said: “By the time the governors in the South-West, South-South, and South-East each take responsibility for one senatorial district alongside National Assembly members, House of Assembly members, and local government chairmen, carrying out person-to-person campaigns across the state, and the governors from the North also come with their local government chairmen, councillors, House of Assembly members, and National Assembly members, we will conduct intensive grassroots campaigns.”

“We will do person-to-person campaigns. We will go house to house. There is no tribe, no language, and no resident in Osun today—whether indigene or non-indigene—who does not have an APC member that can walk to his or her house, knock on the door, and persuade that person to support us so that we can win the election in 2026.

“That is why we selected members of this committee to represent all tribes, all languages, and all shades of opinion—from the polling units to every stakeholder represented here. We need to mobilise for this election, especially the women.

“That is why the Directorate of Women Affairs has a major responsibility. We need to mobilise women from door to door and house to house to ensure that we win this election in 2026,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Campaign Council and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, said the party would mobilise, win the governorship election without shedding blood, and return Osun to the APC fold.

According to the Chairman of the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF): “We shall build on his leadership qualities and support to deliver this assignment and translate national renewal into a message that speaks directly to the aspirations of our people. The APC approaches this election as the most coordinated, focused and prepared political party.”

“Readiness, however, is measured not only by the size of our rallies but by the clarity of our message, the discipline of our organisation and the depth of our connection with the electorate. We shall work as one team, with one purpose and one destination: victory.

“We will reach the people where they live and work, across communities, local government areas, wards and polling units. We will engage workers. We will engage farmers. We will engage market women, artisans, professionals, young people, traditional and religious leaders, and persons with disabilities. We will listen before we act, persuade rather than impose, and mobilise lawfully so that every vote counts and delivers victory,” he said.

While assuring that APC would not be intimidated by the ranting of the opposition, Governor Uzodimma said: “We will not be distracted or intimidated by opposition blackmail, misinformation or manufactured outrage on social media or anywhere else. We will answer falsehood with facts. We will respond to insults with discipline, propaganda with performance and provocation with peace.”

“Our strength will lie not only in the loudness of our voices but in the truth of our message and the effectiveness of our organisation. We are irrevocably committed to a peaceful, free and credible election. Democracy finds its highest meaning when citizens are persuaded by ideas, protected by peace and empowered to choose freely.

“No political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen. We will do everything lawfully possible to ensure that this election is peaceful and credible. Our campaign will be vigorous without violence, competitive without bitterness and confident without arrogance. We shall conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Omoluabi ethos of Osun State.

“Today, we make a solemn promise. This council will perform excellently. We will not merely participate. We will organise. We will mobilise. We will deliver, by the grace of God and the democratic will of the people. We will return Osun to the progressive fold and secure a decisive, peaceful and credible victory for the All Progressives Congress and for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji,” he said.

Those in attendance included the governors of Ekiti, Yobe, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as many chieftains, leaders, and members of the party.