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The Southwest Zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed its state chapters in Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo and Ogun to work as a team to ensure victory for the larty in the governorship election coming up in Osun state on September 22.
The party, in a statement after its zonal leadership meeting held in Ibadan, said it has developed strategies to ensure that the state chapters work together to ensure that the APC governorship candidate wins in Osun.
The statement, signed by the APC Zonal Secretary, Mr Ayo Afolabi, said: “As far as the Southwest Caucus of the APC is concerned, we have a candidate for the election in Osun and we all have to rally round him to win the election.”
The party “directed all state chairmen of the party within the zone to get involved directly in the electioneering process to ensure the party’s victory that started in Ekiti, with the recent election of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is completed in Osun,” adding: “We cannot afford to drop any of our Southwest states to the opposition.”
The meeting, which was chaired by the National Vice Chairman, Pastor Bankole Oluwajana, also expressed willingness to widen its reconciliation efforts with aggrieved members with a view to bringing them back to its fold and prevent further defections. It pledged to work with the National Working Committee of the party put it on the path of progress as the 2019 election draws closer.
The caucus also appealed to aggrieved members of the party in Osun State to give room for internal reconciliations in accordance with party guidelines and ethos.
“Continuous effort should be made to reach out to those who were dissatisfied with the primaries in Osun to retrace their steps, sheath their swords and work for the victory of our candidate, Gbenga Oyetola,” the statement added.
The caucus also agreed to speak with one ‘political’ voice by resolving all internal acrimonies in each of the states within the zone.
“Problems in Oyo and some other states were reviewed and the caucus agreed to work with the respective state chapters to ensure all grievances are addressed and resolved. We recognize the need for regular meetings to resolve the internal issues across the region to ensure we all speak with one voice,” the statement said.
The National Financial Secretary, Alh. Tajudeen Bello; all the state chairmen in the zone; Zonal Legal Adviser, Alh. Tajudeen Lemboye and Zonal Organising Secretary, Hon. Femi Egbedeyi, were among those at the meeting.