The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun to pile pressure on its governors to deliver votes in their states. The party is urging them to work for its success at every level of the 2027 elections. National Secretary of the party, Ajibola Basiru, said governors must deliver for the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly candidates of the APC. He emphasized that the governors have a clear responsibility to deliver for all the candidates of the APC in their states.
The push comes amid a public row between the Progressive Governors' Forum and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over Wike's Rainbow Coalition. Basiru said the coalition does not bother the party, and Wike's support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a welcome development. However, he insisted that the party will not fold its arms and will campaign for all its candidates. Basiru also said Wike has not asked the party for help, either financially or logistically.
Basiru defended the President's first term, citing achievements such as a stabilized economy, with allocations to states now standing at about N2 trillion monthly. He also mentioned that more than 1.6 million students have received education loans, and over 10 million Nigerians have received cash transfers. According to Basiru, the President's plan to skip some campaign events has nothing to do with his health, adding that he is very fit.
On the opposition, Basiru said the APC has won more than 80 per cent of recent by-elections. He cited the example of the Osun by-election, where the ADC polled barely 17,000 votes, while the APC polled over 444,000 votes, despite losing the election. Basiru also mentioned that the rejected votes in Osun were more than 20,000.
Basiru also discussed the issue of state police, saying he had sponsored a bill on it as a senator. He believes that states now have the resources to protect lives and property, and that the Constitution provides safeguards against abuses. According to Basiru, the party is confident of its chances in the 2027 elections.
The APC's efforts to pressure its governors to deliver votes come as Wike's Rainbow Coalition continues to generate controversy. While Basiru said the coalition does not pose a threat to the party, others have expressed concerns that it could hurt APC candidates. The party's ability to mobilize voters and deliver results in the 2027 elections will be closely watched.
Key points
- The APC is urging its governors to work for its success at every level of the 2027 elections.
- The party's national secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said governors must deliver for the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly candidates of the APC.
- The push comes amid a public row between the Progressive Governors' Forum and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over Wike's Rainbow Coalition.
