2027: Southwest APC Pledges Rancour-Free Primaries

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West has assured that the party will conduct credible, peaceful, and rancour-free primaries at both the zonal and national levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC zonal leaders also commended Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for his remarkable strides across the state in nearly four years of his administration.

The National Vice Chairman of the party (South West), Isaac Kekemeke, who stated this during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday, said all machineries have been put in place to ensure a seamless process.

He also declared that the vision of the zonal leaders of the party is to capture Osun and Oyo states for the APC in the next election, after returning Governor Oyebanji and President Tinubu for second terms in the Ekiti June 2026 governorship poll and next year’s presidential election.

Kekemeke, who said the zonal executives of the party are in the state for the inauguration of its newly elected officers and to hold its inaugural meeting, added that President Bola Tinubu, as a democrat, is ready to subject himself to primaries in line with the party’s constitution.

He said, *“As a party, we are getting things done, and I can assure you that we are going to have rancour-free primaries.

“As of today, we know that the National Executive Committee of the party and the National Caucus have adopted the president as the sole candidate of the party for the presidential election. But I can also tell you that the president, being a democrat, wants to subject himself to a direct primary. So, for the presidential election, it is more likely that the party is going to conduct direct primaries.

“States have been directed to abide by the constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act, to either adopt consensus or direct primaries. So, each state in the zone is at liberty to adopt whichever method it considers most suitable.

“We are recommending to our leadership in the zone that they should first pursue consensus because it works best. My own definition of consensus is that it is the ultimate result, whether direct or indirect, because it is the same leadership that will guide the process either way.

“So, I can assure you of a level playing field for all. I can assure you that rules and regulations will be followed. I can also assure you that the party primaries have been structured in such a way that they will be acceptable to all.”*

On why Oyebanji should be returned as governor in the coming election, he said:

*“We have come to engage and discuss matters of importance to our party with governments in the South West, particularly Ekiti.

“Our vision as a party in the zone is to win overwhelmingly in Ekiti on June 20. That is important to us. Ekiti must return Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

“Why? Because he has done so much. Our party has done so much, and Ekiti is now at the forefront of national affairs. Ekiti leads the 10th Assembly and the 10th Senate.

“Roads are being constructed in Ekiti both by President Bola Tinubu at the federal level and Governor Oyebanji at the state level. In the areas of environment, infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture, Governor Oyebanji has delivered. Ekiti people have never had it so good.”*

On the expected number of votes from the South West for the re-election of President Tinubu, Kekemeke said:

“From Ekiti, 570,000 votes; Ondo, 1 million; Oyo, 1 million; Osun, 800,000; Ogun, 1 million; and Lagos, between 2 million and 2.5 million. So, we are expecting between 8 and 10 million votes for President Tinubu from the South West.”