South-West APC soldifies base, re-elects Kekemeke ahead of 2027 battle

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday reaffirmed its grip on the South-West, returning Isaacs Kekemeke as Zonal Chairman during a high-stakes congress in Lagos.

The move, finalised through a consensus-driven process at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (formerly Onikan Stadium), saw Kekemeke and seven other zonal executives emerge unopposed. The smooth transition presupposes unity as the party begins its aggressive mobilization for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking, the chairman of the zonal congress Committee, Jide Jimoh said that no fewer than 1,398 delegates drawn from all the South West States including Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti and Lagos, were accredited for the congress.

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Breaking it down, Jimoh said that Lagos had 337 accredited delegates, Ondo, 245; Oyo, 243; Osun, 156; Ekiti, 211 and Ogun, 206.

After reeling out the consensus list on after the other, the chairman conducted voice votes before affirming their election of each.

The Zonal Executive members elected unopposed include: Alfred Aluko (Secretary), Ismail  Majaro (Legal Adviser),  Lateef Ibirogba (Organising Secretary), and Ayobami Afolabi (Publicity Secretary).

Other are  Oyetunde Adesanya (Woman Leader),  Daramola Adesuyi (Youth Leader) and Dayo Ishola (Persons With Disability).

Describing the conduct of proper zonal congress as historic, Jimoh said that South West had been endowed with great leaders.

“Our zone has always been a hub of progress in politics. We must hold ourselves together and tight,” the chairman said.

He applauded the delegates for making the congress spectacular, successful and memorable, urging the new exco to move the party forward.

Speaking on behalf of the South West Governors,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said the congress remained an example for emulation all over the country.

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Sanwo-Olu, who appreciated all delegates for being ‘extremely patient’, faithful and loyal to the party, also thanked the committee for organising one of the best election.

“You have shown that this is how we do it in South-West. You have shown that this is the example that needs to be emulated in other parts of the country.

“You have seen that this is the Southwestern region of the All Progressive Congress: the best, the most formidable, the most forward-looking region in the country.

“We say this with our full chest. We say this because we have demonstrated it here this afternoon.

“On behalf of our number one delegate, who we are representing in absentia, the President Bola Tinubu, we have shown that indeed he has taught us, he has led us, and we have listened, and we have learned from the very best.

“Today, this afternoon, we have seen the conduct of a free and fair election. We have used the provisions of the 2026 new electoral act and put it into full action here in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.

According to him, APC is a party that stands to follow the rules of engagement, to follow the rules that have been laid by the constitution, our party and by the electoral act.

“It is with great pleasure that I want to thank all of our officials that have conducted this election without rancor, without any ill-feeling, without any omission,” he said.

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Congratulating the new zonal party managers, Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence that the team would lead the party to victory in 2027 elections.

Responding on behalf of the new exco, Kekemeke, who described the congress as historic and epic making, being the zone of the President, appreciated the party leaders in the zone for honouring the team with the responsibility of service the party.

“We will do better than we have done. We will do much more better than we have ever done in the last four years.

“Our duty in the South West is to make sure  we give our President overwhelming support in 2027.

“We call for everyone’s support including all our governors in the zone to ensure that South West has the higher number of votes for Tinubu in 2027,” Kekemeke said.

According to him, the team will ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming governship election taking place in Ekiti and Osun.

In his address,  Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, who was represented by the party’s National Youth Leader,  Dayo Israel, congratulated the party and the zone for the successful congress.

Basiru said, “I expect the new team to work as a team and we must deliverer the South West for Mr President and the journey begins now.”

Read also: APC North-West leaders converge in Kaduna for crucial zonal election

The statutory delegates at the congress included the zonal chairman and former holders of the office, members of the zonal executive committee, serving and past governors from the region, as well as current and former members of the National Assembly.

Others were serving and former principal officers of state Houses of Assembly, state party chairmen, members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, National Caucus members, and other statutory delegates to the national convention.

Some APC chieftains at the congress include Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), APC Governorship Candidate in Osun, Bola Oyebamiji, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, his counterpart from Ondo State,  Olayide Adelami, former Governors, Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) and Aremo Olusegun Osoba (Ogun).

Others are Senators, members of the House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, APC chairmen and other stakeholders in the zone among others.