The South West zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday set itself the target of total control of the region from next year. The ruling party at the centre is currently in control of Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo and Ogun, with the Accord Party controlling Osun and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in charge of Oyo.

But the APC is targeting victory in the August 15 Osun governorship poll, and the Oyo version in 2027. Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti,

South West APC Chairman Isaacs Kekemeke said the party would dominate the June 20 Ekiti governorship election.

He said: “Ekiti must return Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Why? “Because he’s done so much. Because our party has done so much. Because Ekiti is now in the forefront of national discourse. Ekiti leads the 10th Assembly and the 10th Senate.

“Roads are being constructed everywhere in Ekiti. In the areas of empowerment, in the areas of infrastructure, in health, in education, and in agriculture, Oyebanji has delivered. “Ekiti has never had it as good as it is.

And what is more, there is peace in Ekiti “And when it comes to violent crimes reported, Ekiti is the second least. In other words, there is peace.” He added: “Osun in August, and Oyo in January 2027 must return to the APC.

We cannot have a South West that is politically divided. “We will do everything and work with all our leadership to ensure that all the states in the South West zone belong to the APC.”

On Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde referencing the historic “Operation Wetie”, Kekemeke dismissed the remark, describing it as divisive and out of touch with contemporary realities. Kekemeke said: “Anyone who is reminding us of that terrible incident of Wetie is an enemy of our region. “We urge southwesterners to treat it as such. Only an enemy of our region that will remind us of that inglorious year.”