Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have urged the party’s national leadership to prioritise electability when finalising candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The appeal comes as contestants in the party’s recent National Assembly and state assembly primaries await the release of the final list of candidates by the APC national leadership.
Speaking in Akure on Wednesday, the Convener of the Ondo APC Elders Forum, Demola Ijabiyi, said the party must ensure that candidates selected for the elections have the capacity to win at the polls.
Ijabiyi spoke during a medical outreach for elderly residents sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
He said while some aspirants might emerge from primaries through financial strength or other factors, the party must consider their chances in the general election.
He said, “Every party wants to win. You don’t want to select somebody who cannot win an election for you. The purpose of political parties is to sponsor people for elections so that they can win.
“So, I expect our leaders, the resources are with them now, they should look at them, that’s why I advise the elders, what about they come out with, to make sure to enhance the winnability of our party, which we accept.”
Ijabiyi said members of the forum trusted President Bola Tinubu and the National Working Committee of the APC to make decisions that would strengthen the party’s chances in the elections.
He also expressed concern over low voter turnout during elections, describing it as a major challenge to Nigeria’s electoral process.
The APC chieftain said the party was working towards securing more than one million votes for Tinubu in Ondo State in the next presidential election.
“Once people come out to vote, they will vote for him. He is our candidate in Ondo State,” he said.