Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress APC in Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency have called on the party to prioritise electability, grassroots acceptance and voter mobilisation capacity in selecting candidates for the 2027 General Elections.
The call was made during the APC Grassroots Engagement Network \(APC\-GEN\) Voter Education and Grassroots Mobilisation Outreach held in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Forum said the recently concluded Ondo South Senatorial Bye-election provided important lessons for the APC ahead of 2027. According to official INEC figures, out of 672,302 registered voters, only 70,811 were accredited, representing 10.5 per cent turnout, despite the APC winning the election with 68,474 votes.
According to the stakeholders, the figures show that while the APC remains dominant in Ondo State, greater attention must be given to grassroots mobilisation and voter participation if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to record an even wider margin of victory than in 2023.
They recalled that President Tinubu polled 106,052 votes in Ondo South during the 2023 presidential election, while APC senatorial candidate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, secured 110,665 votes, demonstrating the party’s electoral potential when mobilisation is effective.
The Forum stressed that winning elections should not be left to candidates alone, noting that party leaders, elected officials, appointees, stakeholders and grassroots structures all have a responsibility to mobilise voters.
According to the stakeholders, the APC must reward candidates with proven grassroots acceptance, credibility and the capacity to unite party members. They argued that such candidates naturally inspire confidence, increase voter turnout and strengthen the electoral fortunes of the Party at every level, including President Tinubu’s re-election.
The Forum cited High Chief Dele Omosehin as an example of a candidate whom it believes has built considerable goodwill across Okitipupa/Irele through sustained grassroots engagement. According to the stakeholders, his acceptance among party members and local communities places him in a strong position to mobilise widespread support for the APC, attract undecided voters and contribute significantly to delivering a wider victory margin for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the constituency. They therefore urged the Party to give due consideration to candidates with demonstrated grassroots support and mobilisation capacity.
The stakeholders also reaffirmed the importance of respecting the longstanding political understanding between Okitipupa and Irele, noting that the existing rotational arrangement has promoted fairness, stability and party cohesion over the years.
They further pointed to the bye-election figures, where Okitipupa recorded 16,330 votes against Irele’s 9,036 votes, saying electoral realities, grassroots support and established political arrangements should collectively guide decisions affecting the constituency.
The Forum appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Working Committee and the Party leadership to ensure that the submission of candidates to INEC is guided by one overriding objective: fielding candidates capable of delivering overwhelming victories for the APC and substantially increasing President Tinubu’s votes in 2027.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to working with APC-GEN to deepen voter education, strengthen polling-unit structures and mobilise massive grassroots support for the APC across Ondo State.