The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has formally commenced its campaign mobilisation for the 2027 general elections with the inauguration of its State Campaign Council, as Governor Dapo Abiodun charged members to take the party’s message to the grassroots.
Abiodun, who chairs the campaign council, gave the directive on Thursday in Abeokuta, urging members to immediately begin consultations, mobilisation and sustained engagement with voters across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas, 236 wards and polling units. (Channel Television)
The governor described the inauguration as the beginning of a new phase in the party’s preparations for the elections, directing the council to move beyond its organisational structure and translate it into coordinated grassroots activities.
He specifically charged members to work for all APC candidates, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, his running mate, Alhaja Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun, as well as candidates contesting senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats.
“Let consultations and campaign now begin,” Abiodun declared.
‘Elections Require Deliberate Preparation’
The governor said electoral campaigns required more than political reputation or large rallies, stressing the importance of organisation, vigilance, strategic planning and continuous engagement with the electorate.
He urged campaign council members to take the party’s message to markets, farms, workplaces, religious communities, professional associations, neighbourhoods and homes.
“Our campaign must be based on ideas, achievements and a credible vision. We must reach every Local Government Area, ward, polling unit and community,” he said.
Abiodun also called for unity and discipline within the party, urging members to place the collective interest above personal differences.
“Unity is not the absence of differences. It is the wisdom to ensure that our differences do not become greater than our common cause,” he said.
The governor said the campaign council comprises party leaders, strategists, professionals and grassroots organisers drawn from across the state’s three senatorial districts.
He cautioned members against viewing their appointments as mere political titles, stressing that the positions came with responsibilities requiring discipline, strategic thinking and humility.
“These appointments are not decorative titles. They are instruments of service and responsibility,” Abiodun said.
Abiodun Highlights Administration’s Achievements
The governor tasked the campaign organisation with communicating the achievements of his administration in infrastructure, education, agriculture, healthcare, security, investment promotion and social intervention.
He particularly highlighted the Gateway International Airport and other projects which, according to him, are part of efforts to strengthen Ogun’s aviation, agricultural, industrial and logistics potential.
“These are not abstract promises. They are visible on our roads, in our schools and hospitals, in our agricultural communities and in businesses expanding across our state,” he said.
Abiodun warned that achievements could be misunderstood if they were not properly communicated, urging campaign officials to respond to misinformation with facts and clarity.
“Good work that is not effectively explained may be misunderstood, while falsehood repeated without challenge may begin to appear credible,” he said.
He further directed the campaign council to operate as a coordinated political structure, with leaders providing direction, committees implementing strategy and grassroots structures maintaining contact with voters.
Yayi Calls for Inclusive Mobilisation
The APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, urged party members across Ogun State to regard the 2027 elections as a collective responsibility.
Adeola assured APC members whose names were not included in the campaign council that they remained part of the party’s broader mobilisation structure.
He said the council was established to provide coordination and direction rather than exclude other party members, urging APC supporters to remain active in their wards and Local Government Areas.
The governorship candidate called for sustained consultations and grassroots engagement, urging members to take the party’s message into communities and work collectively for all APC candidates.
Osoba Urges APC Members to Close Ranks
Earlier, former Ogun State Governor and APC national leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba, called on party members to close ranks and work collectively towards the party’s 2027 campaign objectives.
Osoba appealed to aggrieved members to “shield their swords” and put the interest of the APC above personal grievances.
He urged members of the campaign council to remain focused on their mandate and ensure that internal differences did not undermine the party’s activities.
Abiodun Warns Against Violence
Abiodun also urged APC members to maintain issue-based and civil communication throughout the campaign, rejecting insults, violence and intimidation.
“Political victory loses its value when purchased at the expense of peace, because leadership cannot build upon the ruins of a divided society,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the contributions of former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, among other party leaders, and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and partnership with Ogun State.
He also recognised Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, APC State Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi, Adeola, Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun and Director-General of the Campaign Council, Senator Lekan Mustapha, among others.
Abiodun thereafter formally declared the campaign council inaugurated and directed members to commence work immediately.
“Let us speak with one voice, work with one purpose and march in one direction,” he said.