Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have urged the party’s national leadership to prioritize electability when finalizing candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The appeal comes as aspirants who participated in the party’s National Assembly and state assembly primaries await the release of the final list of candidates.
Speaking in Akure on Wednesday, Convener of the Ondo APC Elders Forum, Demola Ijabiyi, said the party must look beyond primary victories and assess each aspirant’s ability to win the general election.
Ijabiyi made the call during a medical outreach programme for elderly residents sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to him, political parties exist to win elections and must therefore field candidates with strong public support. He warned that aspirants could secure primary victories through financial influence or other advantages but still struggle at the polls.
“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,” he said.
The APC chieftain urged party leaders to carefully evaluate the strengths of all contenders before making final decisions. He expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu and members of the APC National Working Committee would act in the party’s best interest.
Ijabiyi also raised concerns about low voter turnout, which he described as a major challenge to Nigeria’s democratic process. He said higher participation would strengthen elections and improve representation.
Looking ahead to the next presidential election, he said the APC had begun mobilizing support for Tinubu across Ondo State. He added that the party aims to deliver more than one million votes for the president.
“Once people come out to vote, they will vote for him. He is our candidate in Ondo State,” Ijabiyi said.
