The Ogun State chapter of the Tinubu-Shettima Independent Campaign Council (TSICC) has been inaugurated with a bold mandate to convince thousands of residents in the state who have never voted to cast their ballots for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima in the 2023 elections.
Addressing members of the state executive committee, senatorial and local government coordinators of the ICC at the ceremony held at the banquet hall of Conference Hotel, Abeokuta over the weekend, the state coordinator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel advised them to roll up their sleeves and be focused for the tedious work of mass mobilisation in the days ahead.
According to a statement by the group’s Director of Media and Communications, Chief Gboyega Okegbenro, the former governor of the state described the Tinubu-Shettima pair as the most formidable in the 2023 presidential race. He advised all stakeholders to effectively play their parts in mobilising, educating and convincing registered voters in their neighbourhoods to vote for APC candidates in all the elections.
He said: “We are all very experienced people in elections processes in Nigeria. From what I know already, I can assure you that the 2023 elections will be the most challenging for all contestants at all levels. It, therefore, behoves each and every one of us to immediately brace up for the glaring fresh realities that would follow the introduction of BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) into our electioneering process.
“I am therefore moved to challenge every one of you who just got inaugurated into different roles at the state, senatorial and local government levels to go back and familiarize yourselves with the realities of BVAS and its introduction into the 2023 elections. You must beef up your individual understanding of the workings of BVAS and ensure you educate all party members and non-party members to vote for the APC.
“I urge you to go to your various local governments and wards; and ensure you seek out all residents with voters’ cards, whether party members or not. Then begin to sensitize, encourage and sell our party to them as well as all our candidates for the various offices”.
The co-state coordinator, Senator Olugbenga Obadara also challenged the gathering: “We have been drumming the Asiwaju Tinubu message for a long time and we shall keep doing so till the conclusion of all the elections next year. In this state, the APC is one and our focus is to win all the elections from the Presidency to the 26 State Assembly seats.
“Let us all go out and spread the message of the benefits of voting all APC candidates to all offices come 2023. All our candidates are our focus and our concentration and commitment are singular and total. Let us mobilize and strategize for APC from top to bottom”.
Two former speakers and key members of the Ogun TSICC, Rt. Hon. Titi Oseni and Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi also took turns in addressing the gathering. They both spoke on the need to eschew bad blood and work as a team towards delivering victory for all APC candidates at the 2023 elections.
The event attracted leaders and key stakeholders from the three senatorial districts and 20 local governments of the state.
They included former House of Representatives member, Hon. Kunle Adeyemi from Ifo Federal constituency; former commissioners, Hon. Fatai Sowemimo and Mrs. Joko Odebunmi; Dr. Babatunde Onadeko; Hon John Obafemi; Hon. Soji Akin-Bankole, Otunba (Dr) Kehinde Okusanya; General Muyiwa Okunowo (rtd.); Hon. Adewale Adeogun; and Hon.Olakunle Salako.
Others are Alhaji Bakai Okedara; Alhaji Jimoh Lateef; Hon. Olufunke Fajemisin; Hon. M. A. Akindele; Hon. Musa Maroof; Hon. Femi Remiye; Hon. Oluwole Olubena; Hon. Bayo Adenekan; Mrs Josephine Makanjuola; and Alhaja Ganiyat Shobande.
