By Kanu Samuel
The former Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources and All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Engr. Rasak Obe, has vowed to reclaim what he described as the mandate freely given to him by the people.
Obe, who spoke during a solidarity visit by APC stakeholders from Ifedore Local Government to his residence in Akure, said his name would be on the ballot as the APC candidate for the constituency in the January 2027 election.
He said he was prepared to use every legitimate means, including seeking redress in a court of competent jurisdiction, to reclaim the mandate he claimed to have won and been declared winner of by the APC electoral committee in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“My mandate will not be stolen. It was freely given to me by the people, and I will do everything within the law to reclaim it,” Obe said.
The former commissioner thanked APC supporters and political stakeholders from Ifedore for their massive turnout, assuring them that the mandate would ultimately be restored.
Obe also threw his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term, declaring that he would work with other APC members to secure the President’s re-election.
According to him, his shared professional background with Tinubu was among the reasons for his support for the President.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an alumnus of ExxonMobil, and I am also an alumnus of the same organisation. We share many values, so I am fully supporting his re-election.
“Looking at his policy thrust and all the great things he is doing, there is no progressive-minded person who will not look back, consider what he is doing and support the President for a second term.”
Obe said his supporters had been directed to work for all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections, stressing that party loyalty remained paramount.
“We are APC members and we do not undermine our party. I have assured our people that they should put their minds at rest.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election is not negotiable. He will win by a landslide in Ondo State. We will do everything legitimately to deliver the one million votes that our Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and all APC leaders have promised.”
He added that APC members in the state would work with Governor Aiyedatiwa to deliver massive support for Tinubu.
Obe also dismissed claims that he had predicted Tinubu’s defeat in Ondo State during a recent interview on Arise News.
He described the interpretation of his comments as either mischievous or a failure to understand the context of his remarks.
“Some people referenced my interview on Arise News and claimed that I said the President would not be elected in Ondo State.
“What I said was that we should address the issues in the state to ensure that we have a common front.
“The people who are enemies of the President are those causing division, undermining the Governor and creating division across the state. Definitely, they are not people like us.”
The APC aspirant said his commitment to fighting for what he described as noble causes dated back to his days as a student activist at the University of Benin and continued through his career at ExxonMobil, where he served as Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
“I have been fighting for the noble cause since my days at the University of Benin as an activist, through my time at ExxonMobil as PENGASSAN Chairman.
“I have been very careful in choosing all my battles since then, and I have not lost any. That is why I am offering myself to serve the people of Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber in 2027, and victory is sure.”
The solidarity visit attracted prominent political stakeholders from Ifedore, including the Chairman of Ifedore Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. (Prince) Richard Adetoye Adetanmi; Leader of the House, Ifedore Local Government, Hon. Oluyi Wasiu; women and youth leaders, as well as other party leaders.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to Obe and pledged their continued support for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They also described Obe as a long-standing and leading advocate of President Tinubu’s second-term bid, stressing that he had remained at the forefront of the campaign for the President’s re-election.
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