The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, on Monday urged pensioners to remain vigilant and protect their votes against electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adekanmbi said voters must not only exercise their franchise but also take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count, stressing that safeguarding electoral mandates requires vigilance before, during and after elections.
He gave the charge during an interactive session with members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, at Agbarigo, Ibadan, where he presented aspects of his political and governance agenda.
Citing the Osun State governorship election as an example, the APM candidate said the involvement of pensioners and organised labour in protecting votes underscored the importance of citizens’ participation in safeguarding the electoral process.
He urged Oyo pensioners to adopt a similar approach in 2027 by remaining at their polling units after voting to monitor the counting, recording and collation of results.
“Don’t just go out to vote and return home. You must be vigilant and ensure that your votes count. Protect your votes against hijackers. What happens after casting your ballot is equally important. You must remain alert and follow the process to its logical conclusion,” he said.
On his governance agenda, Adekanmbi promised to build on the achievements of Governor Seyi Makinde, saying his administration, if elected, would consolidate existing development efforts and position the state for greater competitiveness and wealth creation.
He described Makinde’s first term as a period of accelerated development and the second as one focused on sustainable development, adding that his proposed administration would pursue what he called “continued development”.
“Now, my own is being built from continued development. That means there has been acceleration, there has been sustainability, and now you want to position the state for competitiveness, for wealth creation and for getting to the place where it should be in the committee of states,” he said.
The former commissioner said he would not allow the state’s development trajectory to decline, arguing that the achievements of the present administration should provide a foundation for further progress.
“If somebody has done so much over the course of his two terms, the bar must not be dropped. The graph must be up and never flatten out or come down. The graph must continue to grow,” Adekanmbi said.
He said his experience in government had given him first-hand knowledge of Oyo State’s financial and administrative challenges, adding that he had identified areas requiring urgent attention.
“I have first-hand information about the challenges of Oyo State. I know where the problems are, and I know the areas that require attention. I will work on the loopholes and ensure that we continue to move forward,” he said.
The APM candidate also promised to establish periodic meetings with pensioners if elected, explaining that the engagement would provide an opportunity for retired workers to communicate their concerns directly to his administration.
He also pledged to promote grassroots development by strengthening local government administration to ensure that communities benefited more directly from governance.
