2027: APC ready to work with Adeleke for Tinubu’s victory

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has said the party is ready to work with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and other political forces to mobilise massive support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Basiru stated this during a visit to Adeleke, where he congratulated the governor on his victory in the August 15 governorship election and called for greater political collaboration ahead of the 2027 presidential poll.

The APC National Secretary, who served as the campaign coordinator for the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, projected that collaboration between the APC and the Accord Party could deliver about 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in Osun State.

He said efforts were already underway to integrate the Accord structure into the campaign for Tinubu, adding that similar political collaborations were taking place in other parts of the country.

Basiru cited political developments in states including Anambra, Rivers and Ekiti, where, according to him, political actors and parties were supporting or working towards Tinubu’s re-election.

The APC chieftain also thanked Adeleke for his reported endorsement of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, expressing optimism that the governor would actively campaign for the President in Osun State.

He urged residents of the state to put the governorship election behind them and focus on development, saying political differences should not prevent leaders from working together in the interest of the people.

“Election has come and gone. All of us belong to this place. We must work to ensure that we have meaningful infrastructure and a good living for the people of Osun,” he said.

Addressing APC members, Basiru urged party stakeholders to close ranks and work together to secure victory for Tinubu, stressing that unity remained crucial to achieving the objective.

He acknowledged that the APC’s defeat in the governorship election was painful, noting that he personally campaigned in at least 12 local government areas and deployed resources towards securing victory for Oyebamiji.

Basiru, however, said the election outcome should now be regarded as a thing of the past, urging stakeholders to shift their attention to unity and the progress of Osun State.

He recalled Tinubu’s message during the President’s visit to the state, saying: “One of the things that Mr President said when he visited was that when you are a democrat, you must also be able to celebrate victory and also endure when you have lost an election.”

Explaining his visit to Adeleke, Basiru said it was driven by three major considerations, including the re-election of President Tinubu and appreciation for the governor’s support during the burial of his late mother.

He said Adeleke had visited his family following his mother’s death and also attended the burial ceremony, describing the gesture as one that deserved to be reciprocated.

Basiru said he could not return the visit earlier because the governorship election campaign was ongoing, during which he worked vigorously for the victory of Oyebamiji and the APC.