By Chesa Chesa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set a target of 800,000 votes for President Bola Tinubu in Ekiti State in the January 16, 2027 presidential election, with the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, urging residents to support the President’s re-election bid.
Yari made the appeal at the APC presidential campaign rally in Ekiti, where he asked the electorate to increase the state’s support for Tinubu from the 80 per cent recorded in the 2022 election to about 90 per cent in 2027.
He said the state had about 1.08 million registered voters, with more than 900,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected, expressing optimism that the party could secure more than 800,000 votes.
Yari recalled that Tinubu had asked Ekiti voters to support Governor Biodun Oyebanji during the 2022 governorship election, while also seeking their votes for the presidency.
He said the President had not forgotten the state, citing interventions in education, road construction, youth support and women’s empowerment.
The former governor also urged voters in the North to support Tinubu, arguing that the President had demonstrated commitment to the region by supporting northerners to occupy leadership positions in the country.
“Bola Ahmed supported our children, supported our people to become number one citizens in this country up to three times. So, therefore, we in the North, we are ready for Asiwaju 2027 and we are going to deliver him from A to Z,” he said.
Yari challenged opposition parties to explain what they would do differently from the Tinubu administration, citing what he described as improvements in inflation, food prices, exchange rates and balance of trade.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, urged Ekiti residents to re-elect Tinubu, describing him as a performer and reformer.
Yilwatda said the President had embarked on several road projects in Ekiti and other parts of the country, while commending Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his performance in the state.
He highlighted the administration’s tax reforms, particularly the exemption of small businesses earning less than ₦100 million annually from certain tax obligations.
According to him, the policy has relieved small-scale traders, food vendors and other low-income earners of tax burdens.
The APC chairman also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying the scheme had expanded access to higher education by providing financial support to students from less privileged backgrounds.
He noted that beneficiaries also received ₦20,000 monthly for maintenance and upkeep.
Yilwatda called on Ekiti residents to support Tinubu for a second term, as well as APC candidates contesting the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
He specifically urged voters to return the party’s senators and members of the House of Representatives in the January 16, 2027 elections and elect APC candidates in the February 2027 State Assembly elections.
