Tinubu re‑election drive sparks voter‑education rally in Aramoko Ekiti

A senior All Progressives Congress (APC) figure and member of the North Central Development Commission, Dr Atinuke Owolabi, convened a community engagement in Aramoko Ekiti on Saturday to push voter education ahead of the 2027 general elections. The gathering, branded “My vote, my voice”, was organised to rally support for the Tinubu re‑election campaign and for Ekiti Central Senatorial District representative Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. Attendees received a freshly printed Voter Education Handbook that outlines how to locate polling units, mark ballots correctly and avoid invalid votes, a step the APC chieftain says is essential for increasing participation.

Owolabi highlighted stark figures from the 2023 presidential election to illustrate the depth of voter apathy in the area. She noted that out of 17,426 registered voters across the Aramoko I and Aramoko II wards, only 4,680 votes were cast, meaning roughly 73 percent of eligible voters stayed home. At the state level, Ekiti recorded 988,923 registered voters, yet only 315,058 were accredited and 308,171 valid votes were counted, with 6,301 ballots rejected. By pointing to these numbers, the APC member argued that better‑informed citizens could reduce the share of rejected ballots and lift overall turnout for the Tinubu re‑election and Senator Bamidele’s senatorial bid slated for January 16, 2027.

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During the event, Owolabi stressed the practical role of the handbook, saying it teaches voters how elections work, how to identify their polling stations and how to fill out ballot papers correctly. “We are here to sensitise our people on the correct way to vote. When they go to the polling units, they must ensure that they vote correctly,” she told the crowd. The chieftain admitted that eliminating rejected ballots entirely may be unrealistic, but reducing them is achievable, especially in Aramoko where past records show a high proportion of invalid votes.

Beyond the technical aspects of voting, the rally also served as a platform to praise Senator Bamidele’s contributions to the community. Owolabi cited the construction of market stalls and the installation of solar‑powered lights as tangible benefits of the senator’s interventions. She urged residents to view their votes for Tinubu and Bamidele as a means to secure further development projects for the locality, the wider Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole. The message was clear: electoral support translates directly into infrastructural gains.

Women’s participation featured prominently in Owolabi’s appeal. She called on female voters to turn out in larger numbers, reminding them of President Tinubu’s pledge to increase women’s representation in his cabinet and other appointive positions. By linking gender inclusivity to the Tinubu re‑election agenda, the APC member sought to broaden the base of support and ensure that the upcoming election reflects a more balanced demographic profile. Her remarks show the party’s broader strategy of aligning policy promises with voter mobilisation.

The event also highlighted the broader context of voter education in Nigeria. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) periodically distributes similar handbooks to demystify the voting process, especially in rural districts where literacy levels can affect ballot handling. Past elections have shown that a lack of clear guidance often leads to a surge in spoiled papers, which can alter the final tally in tightly contested races. In Ekiti, the gap between accredited voters and total registrations has been a persistent challenge, prompting parties to invest in grassroots sensitisation programmes.

Owolabi’s remarks reflected an understanding that voter apathy is not merely a matter of disengagement but also of information scarcity. She noted that “what is really lacking is adequate information”, a sentiment echoed by civil‑society groups that have called for continuous civic education ahead of every election cycle. By handing out the voter education handbook, the APC hopes to fill that void, giving citizens a step‑by‑step guide on everything from locating their polling unit to correctly marking the ballot paper.

The rally’s focus on the upcoming 2027 elections also show the long‑term planning that political parties are undertaking. While the presidential race will dominate national headlines, senatorial contests such as the one in Ekiti Central remain key for local development agendas. Senator Bamidele’s track record of delivering market stalls and solar lighting projects was highlighted as evidence that elected officials can bring concrete change to their constituencies. Owolabi urged residents to see their support for the incumbent president and the incumbent senator as a pathway to continued progress.

In addition to distributing the handbooks, organisers announced a series of follow‑up workshops scheduled for other towns across Ekiti State. These sessions will target youth groups, market traders and women’s associations, aiming to embed the practice of correct voting ahead of the 2027 ballot. The plan includes monitoring registration drives to ensure that newly eligible voters receive the same educational material, a move designed to sustain momentum beyond a single community event.

As the date approaches, the APC’s focus on grassroots education and targeted outreach remains a central pillar of its Tinubu re‑election campaign, with the next steps involving additional workshops and monitoring of voter registration drives in the region. The party hopes that by turning the “My vote, my voice” slogan into everyday practice, the community will translate higher turnout and fewer invalid votes into a decisive win for President Tinubu and Senator Bamidele in January 2027.