By Segun Giwa

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State says it is targeting one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The party’s Director-General, Ondo State Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Mr Victor Olabimtan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Akure at a news conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council.

Olabimtan said the party was determined to surpass its 2023 electoral performance, when Tinubu secured 369,924 votes, representing about 67.1 per cent of the valid votes cast in the state.

He attributed the party’s confidence to the achievements of the Tinubu administration and its development projects across the state.

He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Ore-Ondo-Akure Road and Ilesha-Akure-Owo-Benin Road among federal infrastructure projects expected to benefit the state.

Olabimtan also cited renewed attention to the proposed Olokola Deep Seaport, the establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital and the proposed Aviation College.

He identified federal student financing initiatives as other interventions by the administration, adding that the appointment of three ministers from Ondo had strengthened the state’s representation at the national level.

The PCC director-general commended Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for promoting party unity and coordinating grassroots mobilisation across the state’s 18 local government areas.

He said Vice-President Kashim Shettima, APC governors, ministers and other national party leaders were expected to attend the party’s presidential campaign rally scheduled for Wednesday in Akure.

According to him, the rally will mark the beginning of sustained mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Olabimtan assured supporters that adequate preparations had been made for the rally.

He urged party leaders and supporters to sustain unity, intensify grassroots engagement and maintain peaceful conduct as they pursue the party’s electoral target.

“This is an achievement we are proud of, but we are not resting on our oars. We are determined to surpass the 2023 record in the 2027 general elections.

“We must strengthen our ward and local government structures, sustain engagement with the electorate and communicate the policies, programmes and achievements of the Tinubu administration in a clear, factual and convincing manner.

“Achieving this ambition will require more than political enthusiasm, identifying unity of purpose, effective coordination, discipline, strategic communication and the active participation of every party member as critical to victory.

“Party leaders, stakeholders and members should place collective interests above personal ambitions and aspirations,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi