Ekiti chiefs pledge one million votes for Tinubu in 2027

From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

While throwing its weight behind his policies and programmes, the association pledged grassroots mobilisation and one million votes for the president towards securing victory at the poll.

The association disclosed this at a gathering convened by the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, where members drawn from across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state also called for sustained implementation of the current administration’s policies and programmes.

Chief Oluwole Ogunsakin, the chairman of the association, said its network extended to towns, villages, families and grassroots organisations, and noted that the association would mobilise communities across the state to achieve the one million votes target for the president.

Ogunsakin also said members would embark on grassroots engagement and encourage eligible voters to participate peacefully and freely in the electoral process.

While identifying insecurity as one of the major concerns confronting residents, Ogunsakin said traditional rulers and chiefs were strategically positioned to contribute to grassroots security because of their closeness to the people.

He welcomed ongoing legislative discussions on the establishment of state police, expressing optimism that the proposal would eventually become law.

The association urged the government to consider involving traditional chiefs in screening and recommending credible candidates from their communities for recruitment into the proposed state police structure.

Ogunsakin said such involvement would strengthen public confidence in the security system, given traditional leaders’ knowledge of their communities and local security challenges, including activities around farmlands.

He said: “As custodians of our heritage and respected community leaders, we recognise the importance of peaceful democratic participation and constructive political engagements.

“On this occasion, the Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders declares its commitment and aspiration to mobilise one million votes through our communities in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, while supporting your political mobilisation efforts.

“We shall encourage eligible voters to participate peacefully and make their choices freely at the ballot.”

Speaking at the event, the FHA’s chairman commended Tinubu’s leadership, policies and programmes, and his political will in transforming the country.

Ojo described the present government’s infrastructure projects, particularly road construction, as unprecedented, saying the roads being constructed under Tinubu’s watch were designed to last between 30 and 40 years.

The FHA boss also commended the president’s appointments, noting that they reflected fairness and representation across the country’s ethnic groups.

According to him, the security situation in the country was gradually improving, citing the ongoing construction of a military barracks in Ikere-Ekiti as an intervention expected to strengthen security operations and create employment opportunities.

He said the project would stimulate economic activities and help address security challenges by providing more opportunities for productive engagement.

Ojo challenged critics of the president’s policies and programmes to explain what they would do differently if given the opportunity to govern.

In his remarks, a former governor of the state, Engr. Segun Oni, called for collective support for Tinubu, saying the president’s second-term ambition required the commitment of political stakeholders.

Oni urged Nigerians seeking a prosperous future for the country to support the president, while advocating political understanding and national unity across ethnic and regional lines.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, expressed optimism about Tinubu’s electoral prospects in Ekiti State, saying the mobilisation target was to secure 90 per cent of the votes for the president.

Daramola described the Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders as an important grassroots constituency in the mobilisation effort.

At the event, the association conferred on the FHA’s chairman the title of Patron in recognition of his contributions to community development, relationship with traditional institutions and philanthropic activities.