A pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) support group, Renewed Hope Ambassadors, has distributed 1,600 bags of rice to residents of Ado Ekiti, in a move aimed at cushioning economic hardship while strengthening grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Monday, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, expressed strong confidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure overwhelming support in the state in the next presidential election. He attributed this optimism to what he described as “landmark projects” and increased federal appointments benefiting Ekiti indigenes under the current administration.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Monisade Afuye, said the collaboration between the state government and the Federal Government has yielded tangible benefits for residents. He urged citizens to sustain their support for President Tinubu to ensure continuity of these gains.
“We are indeed grateful to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors for its commitment to ensuring that the party continues to dominate politics and governance in Nigeria and in Ekiti State beyond 2026 and 2027,” Oyebanji said.
“Ekiti is sure and secured for President Tinubu. We are going to use the June 20 governorship election to send a signal that President Tinubu is loved by our people. We appreciate the level of projects and juicy appointments our people have enjoyed under this government.”
According to him, the state is poised to exceed the 500,000 votes benchmark set by the APC in the forthcoming elections, describing Ekiti as a “done deal” for the President.
The rice distribution targeted vulnerable groups including traders, people living with disabilities, low-income earners, drivers, civil servants, and youth organisations. The initiative, organisers said, is part of broader efforts to mitigate the impact of current economic challenges while reinforcing political engagement at the grassroots.
Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe, said the intervention goes beyond humanitarian support, positioning it as a strategic mobilisation tool rooted in performance-based advocacy.
Awe commended President Tinubu for ongoing and completed infrastructure projects in the region, citing the Ado-Ikere-Akure road and the planned reconstruction of the Ado-Aramoko-Itawure road as examples of federal presence in Ekiti.
“In terms of solid infrastructures and appointments, Ekiti has not done badly under Tinubu Presidency. What we have not witnessed before are happening in Ekiti positively,” he said.
“Since the advent of democracy in 1999, Ekiti had not savoured plum federal appointments as being witnessed under this administration. Our people must show appreciation through their votes.”
He added that the distribution of palliatives would not be a one-off exercise, revealing that assurances had been secured from the President for sustained interventions to cushion hardship.
“Renewed Hope Ambassadors has representatives up to the unit level, so we are working hard to galvanise support for President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji ahead of the coming elections,” Awe stated.
“We are sitting the ‘Ts’ and crossing the ‘Is’. We are running the campaigns of our President and Governor Oyebanji together. These are not victories that will be given by emotion, but by performance and what our people have been able to benefit.”
Other government officials who spoke at the event echoed similar sentiments, expressing confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects. Among them were the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun; Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Alaba Abejide; and the Special Adviser on Mobilisation and Gender Matters, Mrs Kemi Olaleye.
They emphasised that the party’s grassroots-focused strategy would be instrumental in securing victory, dismissing opposition efforts as largely confined to social media.
“APC is a political party with experience. We know where the votes are. The votes are at the grassroots and that is where we are going to canvass for votes, not on social media where our opponents are always rushing to,” one of the officials said.
“President Tinubu will win the 2027 election, it is sure because Nigerians are with him.”
The event underscores a growing trend of politically aligned social interventions being deployed as both relief measures and mobilisation tools, particularly in the build-up to major elections. For the APC in Ekiti, the combination of welfare distribution, infrastructure messaging, and coordinated grassroots engagement appears central to its strategy to retain dominance in the state and contribute significantly to the party’s national electoral ambitions.
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