APC peaceful campaigns pledge made ahead of Ekiti and Osun governorship elections as the UK confirms observer deployment

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has assured Nigerians that the party will conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

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The assurance was given on Thursday during a courtesy visit by Richard Montgomery to the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by Yilwatda’s Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman reaffirmed the party’s commitment to political stability, responsible engagement and credible electoral processes before, during and after the elections.

Speaking during the meeting, Yilwatda described Nigeria’s stability as critical not only to Africa but also to the wider international community.

“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,” he said.

The APC chairman stressed the importance of strengthening democratic institutions, noting that Nigeria plays a significant role in Africa’s economic development, security and democratic advancement.

Highlighting the party’s internal processes, Yilwatda said more than 6,000 APC members participated in recent primary elections conducted by the party, with fewer than three per cent of the outcomes generating petitions.

“We had more than 6,000 party members participate in our primaries across different levels, and less than three per cent of the outcomes generated petitions.

This demonstrates that the process was largely peaceful, transparent and widely accepted,” he stated.

Addressing the forthcoming elections, Yilwatda said APC Peaceful Campaigns would remain the party’s guiding principle in both states.

“On Ekiti and Osun, we are discussing issues, not sentiments. We are very conscious of the need to avoid actions that could destabilise any part of the country. Our focus is to ensure that both states remain peaceful and stable before, during and after the elections,” he said.

The APC chairman also described the party as a model for other political organisations, arguing that its internal practices often influence wider political developments across the country.

During the visit, Yilwatda praised the economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration remained committed to building a stronger economy and investing in critical infrastructure.

According to the statement, the president’s economic agenda is focused on expanding Nigeria’s economy while consolidating long-term development gains.

Meanwhile, Richard Montgomery disclosed that the United Kingdom would deploy election observers to monitor the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls.

The British envoy described the elections as significant because they are the final off-cycle governorship contests before Nigeria’s next general elections.

Montgomery said the United Kingdom’s participation would be aimed at supporting peaceful, credible and successful electoral processes while respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“Nigeria is Africa’s largest country, and developments here are of great importance to the United Kingdom because of our strong economic, financial and security interests,” he noted.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Ekiti State governorship election for June 20, 2026, while voters in Osun State are expected to head to the polls on August 8, 2026.

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The APC Peaceful Campaigns pledge comes amid growing attention on preparations for both elections, which political observers view as important indicators ahead of future national contests.