The All Progressives Congress has pledged to run peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
This is as the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, announced that the United Kingdom would deploy observers to monitor both polls.
The assurances were exchanged during a courtesy visit by the High Commissioner to the APC’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, where both sides underscored the importance of credible elections to Nigeria’s democratic stability and its standing on the global stage.
The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, while receiving the High Commissioner, described Nigeria’s stability as critical not only to Africa but to the wider international community.
“We welcome you to our party secretariat. Nigeria is strategic not just to Africa but to the entire world. The stability of Nigeria is important to both Africa and Europe. Any instability in Nigeria will have far-reaching consequences across the continent. Therefore, we must all work together to support the stability and progress of our country,” he said.
Yilwatda called on foreign partners to continue supporting democratic institutions in Nigeria, noting the country’s outsized influence on the continent.
“We want our foreign partners to continue supporting democratic institutions in Nigeria. Many African countries draw strength from Nigeria’s leadership and stability, and we must continue to strengthen our democratic processes for the benefit of our people and the continent,” the statement read.
The APC chairman highlighted the party’s recent internal democratic processes, saying over 6,000 members participated in its primaries across various levels with only a minimal number of petitions.
“We had more than 6,000 party members participate in our primaries across different levels, and less than three percent of the outcomes generated petitions. This demonstrates that the process was largely peaceful, transparent and widely accepted,” he said.
Yilwatda described the APC as a benchmark for political organisations across the country, saying, “We are the reference point for other political parties. They observe our processes and often replicate our innovations and practices. This places a great responsibility on us to continue setting high standards for internal democracy and political conduct.”
On the forthcoming elections, the chairman was unequivocal about the party’s approach.
“On Ekiti and Osun, we are discussing issues, not sentiments. We are very conscious of the need to avoid actions that could destabilize any part of the country. Our focus is to ensure that both states remain peaceful and stable before, during and after the elections,” he added.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, saying, “The President is working towards achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy while investing heavily in critical infrastructure that will secure Nigeria’s economic future. As a party, we are committed to sustaining these reforms and ensuring that the gains are consolidated for future generations.”
On his part, the British High Commissioner said the UK’s decision to deploy observers reflected the significance of the two elections as the final off-cycle governorship polls before the 2027 general elections.
Montgomery emphasised that the UK respected Nigeria’s sovereignty while remaining deeply invested in the country’s democratic and economic development, saying Nigeria’s size and influence meant that developments within it were of major importance to the United Kingdom, which has significant economic, financial and security interests tied to its stability and democratic progress.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Ekiti State governorship election for Saturday, June 20, 2026, while the Osun State governorship poll is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026.
