APC Targets 1.5m Votes For Tinubu In Osun – Basiru

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has said the party is targeting about 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in Osun State in the January 16 presidential election.

Basiru stated this on Sunday when he paid a courtesy visit to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the Government House, Osogbo.

He said the visit was threefold: to appreciate Adeleke for visiting his family and attending his mother’s burial, congratulate him on his victory in the August 15 governorship election, and thank him for endorsing President Tinubu.

“My visit here is threefold. I want to thank His Excellency and also to return the visit he made to my house during the time I lost my mother.

“The second is also to congratulate him on his victory in the election and also to thank him for endorsing my leader and our presidential candidate,” Basiru said.

The APC national secretary said the party was working towards integrating the political structure of the Accord Party into the campaign for Tinubu, noting that the two parties combined had close to one million votes in the recent governorship election.

“In between the Accord and the APC, we have close to one million votes, and with the presidential election, I think we should be looking to working together for about 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Basiru said the proposed collaboration was aimed at mobilising broad-based support for Tinubu in the state, adding that similar engagements were being pursued with political actors and parties across other states.

He disclosed that Adeleke had assured him that he would personally join the campaign and work vigorously for Tinubu ahead of the January 16 presidential election.

The APC national secretary, however, described the outcome of the governorship election, in which Adeleke defeated the APC and its candidate, as painful for the party.

He subsequently urged APC members in Osun to put their differences aside, close ranks and work collectively towards securing victory for Tinubu.

Basiru recalled President Tinubu’s position that a true democrat must be capable of celebrating victory while also enduring defeat, urging party members to remain committed and focused on the next political battle.