Etim Effiong
Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State on October 10, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council for Ondo State Governorship Election, has stormed the state to ginger up electorates to support the candidacy of the incumbent governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
Sanwo-Olu is expected to be accompanied by some members of the party’s National Campaign Council and will meet with some APC leaders and critical stakeholders in Ondo State to prepare for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Apart from meeting with the APC stakeholders, Sanwo-Olu will also join the campaign train of Akeredolu and his running-mate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to seek up support for the party in some towns and local governments.
On Saturday, Sanwo-Olu had joined other party leaders to flag off the governorship campaign for Akeredolu.
Speaking on the election, Sanwo-Olu said: “The APC in Ondo State have performed creditably well to defeat all the other candidates. There is no gain saying that our candidate has done well in his first term as governor of Ondo State. Without sounding immodest, Governor Akeredolu will defeat his closest rival by more than thirty percent of the ballots.
“The people of Ondo know our party and I daresay that we are the only party they trust to deliver the goods to them. That’s exactly what the Government of Rotimi Akeredolu has been doing in the last three and half years. Therefore, Ondo people will come out on 10th October to cast their votes knowing fully well that Governor Akeredolu needs to be given a chance to continue with all his good work.
“My last visit to Akure where I witnessed a monumental support and a display of affection for Governor Akeredolu by the residents is an eye opener.”
Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of APC had on August 15 inaugurated the 104-member APC National Campaign Council for Ondo State Governorship Election led by Governor Sanwo-Olu with the governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong as deputy chairman.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, Sanwo-Olu said APC’s victory in the October 10 gubernatorial poll would be landslide, adding that the party’s confidence is buoyed by the giant strides of Akeredolu in different areas of human endeavours.
“Today, our great party the All Progressives Congress has begun a march to another victory in Ondo State. I have described this journey as a repeat performance of what we did less than four years ago, when the people of Ondo State filed out in their numbers to elect my brother and friend, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (Aketi) as their sixth executive governor. The only difference in this years’ experience is that our victory will be a landslide!
“We know that since APC-led government of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was sworn in on the February 24, 2017, Ondo has moved from her hitherto parlous state, to a trajectory of growth and development. This is a major feature of our party. We pride ourselves as harbinger of peace, progress and purposeful leadership wherever we have our foothold,” he had said.
Sanwo-Olu will meet with the leadership of APC in Ondo, elected representatives at various levels as well as members of the Local Organising Committee of the Akeredolu campaign organisation to concretise strategies for victory in the election.