The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, on Sunday evening received members of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The visit was an opportunity for members of the council to seek the royal blessings of the Ooni as they intensify preparations and mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare.
The delegation was led by the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State. Other members included serving and former governors who are part of the council.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who serves as the state coordinator of the council, was represented at the event by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi.
Speaking during the visit, Yari said the delegation had come to seek the Ooni’s royal blessings and support for the re-election bid of President Tinubu.
He expressed the council’s determination to work tirelessly towards securing a second term for the President, insisting that its members remained committed to mobilising support across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.
Yari said, “We are here today to seek the blessings of Your Imperial Majesty. We are committed to working tirelessly to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secures a second term in office.
“We know the economic situation Nigeria faced in 2023 and it is getting much better today. We believe Nigerians will give President Tinubu another opportunity, and we are committed to working towards that objective.”
The former Zamfara governor also commended Governor Adeleke for his commitment to the council’s activities in Osun State, expressing confidence in the state’s capacity to deliver substantial votes for the President.
He declared that the APC Presidential Campaign Council was targeting two million votes for Tinubu in Osun State during the 2027 presidential election.
Yari added that the council would work with its members and other stakeholders to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and ensure that the state’s contribution to the President’s re-election campaign reflected its expectations.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed confidence in his state’s ability to deliver votes for Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
Aiyedatiwa said governors had been charged with taking responsibility for political mobilisation in their respective states, adding that Ondo State remained committed to supporting the President.
He said, “When we were inaugurated, we were charged with ensuring that every governor takes responsibility for his state. Ondo State is for Asiwaju, and we promise that one million votes will be delivered.”
In his remarks, the Ooni who is also the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for their contributions to the Yoruba race, expressing appreciation for their efforts towards the development and promotion of the interests of the Oduduwa people.
The Ooni described Tinubu as the father of the nation and acknowledged the importance of leadership that promotes the interests, unity and development of the country.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the father of the nation. He and the First Lady have done very well for the Oduduwa race, and I am happy to receive you all in my palace.”
