Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun on Wednesday called for mass participation in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) Membership Registration and Revalidation Exercise in the country.
Oyetola called on party members and loyalists across the nation, particularly in the South West to ensure full participation in the exercise.
He said taking part in the exercise was the only way of becoming a bonafide card-carrying member of the ruling party.
The governor spoke during south west inauguration of the exercise in Ila-Orangun, Ila Local Government Area of the state.
Oyetola , who revalidated his membership of the party in Iragbiji, his hometown, said the exercise was necessary to allow the party update its membership register and accommodate new members.
He said the exercise would also help to expand the membership base of the party which he said was in tandem with the reform initiatives of the National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary/Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
Oyetola, who is a member of the APC National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary/Convention Planning Committee, reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing adequate security before, during and after the registration exercise.
In his remarks, Chief Bisi Akande, a former governor of the state and former interim APC National Chairman, appreciated the party’s leadership for the honour of making him the second person to register after President Muhammadu Buhari.
Akande, who revalidated his APC membership in his home town, Ila-Orangun, urged the APC leadership to make huge success of the exercise, which he said would determine its success in future elections.
Earlier, the leader of the APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Monitoring Committee in South West, Sen. Lawali Shuaib, commended Chief Akande for being committed to democratic tenets and party’s principles since its formation.
Lawali said the choice of Ila Orangun, the hometown of Chief Akande, as the venue for the inauguration of the exercise in the zone was a deliberate decision.
He noted that the initiative was a testimony to the undiluted respect which the party had for its leaders.
Also speaking, Osun APC Caretaker Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun urged party members, loyalists and supporters to come out and participate in the registration exercise.