Ondo State Governor, H.E. Rotimi Akeredolu (standing). He is flanked (L-R) by the National Vice Chairman (North West), Inuwa Abdulkadir; Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawali Shuaibu (2nd right) and National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday appointed the Governor of Kebbi State, H. E. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu to head the Party’s 77-member National Campaign Council to ensure victory for the Party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the July 14 Ekiti Governorship Election.

The campaign council which was inaugurated by the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Lawali Shuaibu on behalf of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun consists of fourteen serving governors, ministers, some members of the Party’s National Working Committee, National Assembly members and senior Party leaders.

Speaking during the inauguration, Sen. Lawali Shuaibu while stressing the importance of the Ekiti governorship election to the Party, urged the campaign council to shun hate speech in its campaign message to the people of Ekiti.

Shuaibu: “In the exercise your assignment, please avoid hate speech. Let us ensure that we don’t use hate speech during our campaigns. If other Parties do that, our concern should be to capture the hearts of the Ekiti people in going out to bring to an end the four-year comedy that has been going on there.

“The election in Ekiti is very important for the APC. Infact, we feel the level of importance of the election is slightly below the importance of the presidential election to us. We are not going to relent in our effort to win Ekiti State. The responsibility now rest on your shoulders.”

The National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso during the inauguration also expressed the Party’s resolve to win the Ekiti governorship election. “The election should be a must win for our Party. We won that election before, it was taken away fraudulently. This time around, we want to win it again and retain it,” he said.

The Chairman of the Party’s National Campaign Council and the Governor of Kebbi State, H. E. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who was represented by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, at the inauguration called for unity among the campaign council and all stakeholder to ensure victory, come July.

He said: “We take this task as very important. Just as we all have stressed it. This will not be the first time the Party is expressing and underscoring the importance of this election. When South-West Party leaders met with the president recently, he underscored the importance of this election.

“We have faced enough of affront as a Party. Challenge has been thrown to us not only by the PDP, but by Governor Fayose. So we must be united to confront that challenge. We will give our all to ensure that we win Ekiti State for the APC.

“This will be a second battle. Somebody I read on Facebook said something about Ekiti and I said by the Grace of God, it will happen that way. I tell you what he said, ‘Akeredolu contested against Mimiko, he lost. He contested thereafter against Mimiko’s candidate, he won. So if Fayemi contested against Fayose and lost, he is now contesting against Fayose’s candidate. He will win’”.

FULL LIST OF EKITI STATE CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

1. H. E. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu – Governor Kebbi (Chairman)
2. H. E. Akinwunmi Dapo Ambode –           Governor Lagos
3. H. E. Sen. Ibikunle Amosun –           Governor Ogun
4. H. E. Sen. Abiola Ajimobi –           Governor Oyo
5. H. E. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola –           Governor Osun
6. H. E. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN – Governor Ondo
7. H. E. Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed –           Governor Kwara
8. H. E. Alh. Abdulazeez Yari –           Governor Zamfara
9. H. E. Mr. Godwin Obaseki –           Governor Edo
10. H. E. Alh. Yahaya Bello –           Governor Kogi
11. H. E. Mr. Simon Bako Lalong –           Governor Plateau
12. H. E. Alh. Kashim Shettima –           Governor Borno
13. H. E. Sen. Mohammed Umar Jibrilla –           Governor Adamawa
14. H. E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar –           Governor Jigawa
15. H. E. Engr. Segun Oni
16. Alh. Manir Dan-Ali –           Minister Defence
17. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau Rt d          –           Interior
18. Alh. Bawa Bwari Abubakar –           State, Solid Minerals
19. Dr. Ibe Kachikwu –           State, Petroleum
20. Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN –           Power, Works and Housing
21. Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi –           Transport
22. Chief (Dr.) Chris Ngige –           Labour
23. Prof. Isaac Adewole –           Health
24. Sen. Sola Adeyeye
25. Sen. Tayo Alasaodura
26. Sen. Andy Uba
27. Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim
28. Sen. Aliyu Wammako
29. Sen. Abu Ibrahim
30. Sen. Ben Uwajumogu
31. Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi
32. Sen. Tony Adeniyi
33. Hon. Bamidele Faparusi
34. Rt. Hon. Yusuf Lasun
35. Hon. Aliyu Magaji
36. Hon. Stephen Olemija
37. Hon. Mike Ogun
38. Otunba Niyi Adebayo
39. Alh. Yau Darazo
40. Sen. Olurunnimbe Mamora
41. Dr. Muiz Banire
42. Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu
43. Sen. Domingo Obende
44. Engr. Ade Adetimehin
45. Sen. Uche Ekwunife
46. Mr. Ayo Afolabi
47. Mrs. Kemi Nelson
48. Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele
49. Engr. Mohammed Maihaja
50. Hon. Omowunmi Edet
51. Mr. Yemi Olowolabi
52. Chief Zacha Adelabu
53. Barr. Sharon Ikeazor
54. Hadjia Hadiza Bala Usman
55. Mr. Edwin Ikhinmwin
56. Mr. Hubert Shaiyen
57. Mr. Adejoke Adefolire
58. Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
59. Chief Kemi Adeosun
60. Senator Monsurat Sumonnu
61. Senator Binta Masi
62. Hajiya Fati Balla
63. Prof. Okey Onyejekwe
64. Mr. Ray Morphy
65. Hon. Jibir Maigari
66. Dr. Jabo Zarami
67. Mr. Shina Peller
68. Sen. Osita Izunaso
69. Alh. Bolaji Abdullahi
70. Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu
71. Alh. Dasuki Ibrahim Jalo
72. Chief Pius Akinyelure
73. Alh. Tajudeen Bello
74. Barr. Awele Van Nwoko
75. Mrs. Yetunde Adeniji
76. Mrs. Toyin Edun
77. Alhaji Ali Wurge