Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has charged leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to remain united and mobilise total support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

The governor gave the charge on Monday at an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, where an eight-member committee was set up to oversee preparations for the ward, local government and state congresses scheduled for September this year.

The committee is headed by the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Alaba Abejide.

Addressing stakeholders at the meeting, Oyebanji explained that the congresses would be crucial to the party’s preparations for the December local government election, as well as the 2027 general elections.

He urged stakeholders to embrace unity and inclusivity with a view to stabilising and strengthening the party at the grassroots.

The governor stressed that the forthcoming congresses must be handled in a manner that accommodates all interests within the party, noting that a peaceful, transparent and inclusive process would further strengthen the APC at the grassroots and consolidate the stability the party currently enjoys in the state.

While commending the leaders and members of the party for their collective efforts and unity, which produced victory for the party in the June 20 governorship election, the governor said the congresses must be conducted in a way that would position the party for victories in successive elections beyond 2030.

According to him, “We have broken the jinx of consecutive tenure. We have to break another jinx when I leave in 2030; another APC person must emerge, and the foundation for that is these congresses.

“This congress has implications for a lot of things; it has implications for the local government election in December, and for the presidential and national and state assembly elections in January and February respectively. We have a tradition that has worked for us, and that is what we are still going to follow. The leaders must do everything to ensure that we have a strong party that will, in another four years, produce another governor.”

Speaking on the committee, Oyebanji said he had absolute confidence in Chief Abejide’s ability to do a good job.

“Once again, I appeal to us all that we need to give our best to our President. He has been so good to us; he has been extremely supportive, and this is the only opportunity to say thank you,” he added.

Earlier in his remarks, APC State Chairman, Sola Elesin, congratulated the governor on his re-election, describing the victory as historic as it marked the breaking of the jinx of a sitting governor securing a second term in office in Ekiti State.

The chairman commended party leaders and members for their commitment and contributions, which he said were instrumental to the overwhelming victory secured at the poll.

He urged them to sustain the momentum by ensuring a massive turnout of voters in subsequent elections, stressing that the party must remain focused and committed to mobilising the electorate, particularly ahead of the 2027 general election.

Also in his remarks, former governor, Chief Segun Oni, stressed the need for all stakeholders to rejig their strategies and strengthen their mobilisation efforts ahead of the forthcoming presidential election.

He urged them to focus on increasing voter turnout by deepening grassroots engagement and ensuring that supporters are adequately mobilised to participate in the election.