…Olabimtan says state ready to host Vice-President, APC leaders in Akure
By Duchess Ifeoluwa
The Director-General of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, has declared that the party is targeting a bigger electoral victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, saying it is determined to surpass its performance in the 2023 presidential poll.
Olabimtan made the declaration on Tuesday in Akure, at a national press conference to announce the state’s readiness to host Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other national leaders of the APC at a presidential campaign rally scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).
The rally is expected to hold at the Akure Township Stadium from 9am, with APC governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, national party leaders and other political stakeholders expected to attend.
The campaign council director-general said the visit would provide an opportunity for the people of Ondo State to demonstrate their support for Tinubu, reaffirm confidence in his leadership and identify with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
He also described the rally as an opportunity for the APC to demonstrate its unity, organisational strength and preparedness for the 2027 elections.
Olabimtan said the campaign council, working under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had activated its mobilisation structures across the state’s 18 local government areas to ensure an impressive turnout.
He listed party leaders, elected representatives, political appointees, ward and local government coordinators, youth and women leaders, among those actively involved in preparations for the event.
According to him, the level of enthusiasm and commitment among party members has given the council confidence that the rally would demonstrate the APC’s political strength and organisational capacity in the state.
He, however, stressed that the gathering was not merely about numbers but also about unity, solidarity and renewed commitment to the party’s collective objectives.
On the impact of the Tinubu administration on Ondo State, Olabimtan said the Federal Government’s economic reforms and development interventions had created opportunities for the state, particularly in infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic development.
He acknowledged that some of the reforms had brought temporary difficulties for Nigerians but maintained that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding structural problems affecting the country’s economy.
The APC chieftain also described Ondo State’s representation by three substantive ministers in the Federal Executive Council as a significant milestone, naming Professor Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior; and Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, Minister of Youth Development.
He said their presence in the Federal Executive Council had given the state greater representation in national policy formulation and implementation, while creating opportunities for it to benefit from federal programmes and initiatives.
On infrastructure, Olabimtan identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a major national project with significant implications for Ondo State, particularly its coastal communities.
He said the project would improve connectivity, stimulate commerce and open up opportunities in tourism, agriculture and other productive sectors.
He also expressed optimism about renewed attention to the proposed Olokola Deep Seaport, describing it as a project with enormous potential to transform the state’s maritime and industrial economy, attract investments and create employment opportunities.
Other projects highlighted by him included the ongoing expansion and reconstruction of the Ore-Ondo-Akure Road and the dualisation of the Ilesha-Akure-Owo-Benin Road, which he said would improve transportation and facilitate the movement of people and goods.
In the education and healthcare sectors, Olabimtan described the approval and commencement of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital as another significant development for the state.
He said the project would improve access to quality healthcare, strengthen medical training and research, and create employment and investment opportunities.
He also mentioned the proposed Aviation College as an initiative that would expand access to specialised technical education, skills acquisition and human capital development.
The campaign council director-general further acknowledged federal interventions in student financing, social investment and other critical sectors, saying they were creating opportunities for Nigerians, particularly young people, to participate in national development.
Olabimtan commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for what he described as purposeful leadership and efforts to strengthen the APC through internal cohesion, grassroots engagement and effective coordination of party structures.
He said ongoing ward meetings and preparations for local government and senatorial meetings were part of a deliberate strategy to consolidate the party’s structures and keep members united and motivated ahead of the elections.
He urged party leaders and members to place the collective interest of the APC above personal differences and individual ambitions, stressing that the task ahead required cooperation, discipline, loyalty and a shared sense of purpose.
On the party’s 2027 electoral target, Olabimtan said the APC was determined to improve on what he described as its outstanding performance in Ondo State during the 2023 presidential election, when it secured the highest winning-margin percentage in the country.
He said the party was not resting on that achievement but was committed to surpassing the record in the next general elections.
He called on party members to strengthen ward and local government structures, sustain engagement with voters and communicate the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration.
Olabimtan added that the mobilisation process would continue beyond Wednesday’s rally, urging party members to return to their respective communities to consolidate the party’s structures and maintain contact with the electorate.
“Our objective is clear: to deliver Ondo State for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections,” he said.
He also appealed to residents of the state, including youths, women, professionals, artisans, traders, market associations and community leaders, to attend the rally.
While assuring visitors and participants of the party’s readiness to host a successful event, he urged all attendees to conduct themselves peacefully, responsibly and in accordance with the law.
“Ondo State is ready. The APC is united. Our mobilisation is in full gear. And our commitment to delivering victory in 2027 remains unwavering,” Olabimtan declared.
The press conference was attended by other members of the Ondo State 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, some aides of Governor Aiyedatiwa and APC stakeholders.
