Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency have urged the party to prioritise electability, grassroots acceptance and voter mobilisation capacity in selecting its 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 stakeholders said the recently concluded Ondo South Senatorial bye-election offered valuable lessons for the APC ahead of the 2027 polls.
They noted that according to official Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) figures, only 70,811 of the 672,302 registered voters were accredited for the bye-election, representing a turnout of 10.5 per cent, despite the APC securing victory with 68,474 votes.
According to the forum, the figures indicate that while the APC remains the dominant political party in Ondo State, there is a need to intensify grassroots mobilisation and voter participation to enable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu record a wider margin of victory than he achieved in the 2023 presidential election.
The stakeholders recalled that Tinubu polled 106,052 votes in Ondo South during the 2023 presidential election, while the APC’s senatorial candidate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, garnered 110,665 votes, demonstrating the party’s electoral strength when effective mobilisation is carried out.
They stressed that election victories should not rest solely on candidates, adding that party leaders, elected officials, political appointees, stakeholders and grassroots structures all have critical roles to play in mobilising voters.
The forum maintained that the APC should reward candidates with proven grassroots acceptance, credibility and the ability to unite party members, arguing that such qualities naturally inspire confidence, boost voter turnout and strengthen the party’s electoral fortunes at all levels, including President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The stakeholders cited High Chief Dele Omosehin as an example of a politician they believe has built significant goodwill across Okitipupa/Irele through sustained grassroots engagement.
According to them, Omosehin enjoys widespread acceptance among party members and local communities, placing him in a strong position to mobilise support for the APC, attract undecided voters and contribute significantly to increasing President Tinubu’s votes in the constituency.
They therefore urged the party to give due consideration to aspirants with demonstrated grassroots support and strong mobilisation capacity.
The stakeholders also reaffirmed the importance of preserving 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 results, where Okitipupa recorded 16,330 votes compared to 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 candidates submitted to INEC are those capable of delivering overwhelming victories for the APC and substantially increasing the President’s vote tally in the 2027 elections.
The stakeholders also 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.