A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, says the outcome of the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections will serve as a litmus test for the 2027 general elections.

Mr Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, who spoke with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, noted that the two states are “must-win” for the APC.

He said that a landslide victory for the party on June 20 in Ekiti and August 15 in Osun would consolidate President Bola Tinubu’s chances of an overwhelming victory in the 2027 election.

Mr Oyintiloye charged APC members to be united and work together to secure victory in the two states.

He said that winning the two states would further confirm the dominance of the APC in the country’s political system.

“The Ekiti and Osun elections will serve as a litmus test for the 2027 general elections in the country.

“The two are very crucial for the APC because they will be conducted a few months before the general elections and must be must-win contests for the party.

“Victories for the APC in the two states will boost the party’s confidence and solidify its supremacy in the country’s political landscape,” he said.

Specifically, Mr Oyintiloye said the Osun governorship election is peculiar because the APC aims to unseat the incumbent governor is a task the party must be ready for.

He said the party’s victory in the Osun election would be seamless due to the new strategic design and the development of an excellent internal framework by party leaders in the state.

“We are confident of victory because the leaders of the party in the state – National Leader, Chief Bisi Akande; State Leader and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; the national secretary of the party, Sen. Ajibola Basiru; and the state party Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, among others – are working tirelessly for the APC’s victory.

“The task has become easier with the choice of the party’s candidate, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, who is capable, reliable, dependable and a promise keeper,” he said.

Mr Oyintiloye, however, appealed to aggrieved members of the party to set aside their differences, uphold their loyalty, reconcile their differences, and work for the party’s victory.

He said that the contribution of party members was important to the success of the party at the poll. 

(NAN)