APC pledges issue-based campaigns ahead of Ekiti, Osun polls

The All Progressives Congress has pledged to run peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to stability, responsible political engagement, and credible electoral processes before, during, and after the polls.

The APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

Yilwatda’s Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, in a statement, also said the British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery, announced that the United Kingdom would deploy observers to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections to support credible polls.

In the statement, Prof Yilwatda, while receiving the High Commissioner, described Nigeria’s stability as highly important not only to Africa but also to the global community.

“We welcome you to our party secretariat.

Nigeria is strategic not just to Africa but to the entire world.

“The stability of Nigeria is important to both Africa and Europe. Any instability in Nigeria will have far-reaching consequences across the continent.

“Therefore, we must all work together to support the stability and progress of our country,” he said.

The APC national chairman said Nigeria plays a key role in Africa’s economic growth, security, and democratic progress, emphasising that strong democratic institutions are vital for sustaining national development.

The statement read, “We want our foreign partners to continue supporting democratic institutions in Nigeria. Many African countries draw strength from Nigeria’s leadership and stability, and we must continue to strengthen our democratic processes for the benefit of our people and the continent.

“Professor Yilwatda highlighted the APC’s recent internal democratic processes, noting that over 6,000 party members participated in the party’s primary elections across various levels, with only a minimal number of petitions recorded.

“We had more than 6,000 party members participate in our primaries across different levels, and less than three per cent of the outcomes generated petitions. This demonstrates that the process was largely peaceful, transparent and widely accepted.”

The APC chairman also noted that as Africa’s largest political party, the APC remained a benchmark for political organisations across the country.

“We are the reference point for other political parties. They observe our processes and often replicate our innovations and practices. This places a great responsibility on us to continue setting high standards for internal democracy and political conduct.

“On Ekiti and Osun, we are discussing issues, not sentiments. We are very conscious of the need to avoid actions that could destabilise any part of the country. Our focus is to ensure that both states remain peaceful and stable before, during and after the elections,” he added.

Prof Yilwatda also praised the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, noting that the administration remained focused on building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

“The President is working towards achieving a $1tn economy while investing heavily in critical infrastructure that will secure Nigeria’s economic future.

“As a party, we are committed to sustaining these reforms and ensuring that the gains are consolidated for future generations,” the statement added.

As stated in the statement, Montgomery announced that the United Kingdom would deploy delegations to observe the upcoming elections.

He explained that the polls represent the final off-cycle governorship elections before next year’s general elections, adding that the UK would participate with the aim of ensuring they are peaceful, credible, and successful.

Montgomery also emphasised that the UK respects Nigeria’s sovereignty while remaining deeply interested in the country’s democratic and economic development.

According to him, Nigeria is Africa’s largest country, adding that developments within it are of major importance to the United Kingdom, which has significant economic, financial, and security interests tied to its stability and democratic progress.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Ekiti State governorship election for Saturday, June 20, 2026, while the Osun State governorship poll is scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026.