By Shina Abubakar

OSOGBO — National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ajibola Basiru, on Wednesday presented business grants totalling N66.4 million to 332 members of the party in Osun State.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the state’s 332 political wards, each received N200,000 to support or expand their businesses.

Speaking during the presentation at Alubarika House in Osogbo, Basiru, who is the convener of the Alubarika Movement, said the initiative was designed to improve the livelihoods of party members and enable them to remain economically productive.

He said the grants were intended strictly for business support and would not attract any administrative charges.

“A total of 332 people, one from each ward, received N200,000 each, amounting to N66.4 million. In the coming months, we will roll out additional empowerment programmes to support our members in their various trades and vocations,” he said.

“They should use the money to support whatever business they are doing. Nobody is going to collect administrative charges from them, and they should not use it for political mobilisation. We already have resources for mobilisation. This money is to help them improve their businesses and their standard of living.”

Commenting on the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, Basiru said the APC would focus on grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement rather than violence.

“Our strategy is based on mobilisation, education and ensuring that people identify with our party, not violence. The Alubarika Movement is a mobilisation arm of the APC, and our campaign organisation is committed to securing victory for our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Munirudeen Oyebamiji (AMBO), in the governorship election,” he said.

He urged political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully, stressing that elections should reflect the will of the people.

“We enjoin all political parties to embrace peace. Elections are about the choice of the people, not violence. Our party is committed to a peaceful process and is not involved in any act of violence,” Basiru added.

Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Munirudeen Oyebamiji, described the empowerment programme as a significant intervention that would strengthen the economic capacity of party members.

He commended Basiru for the initiative, saying it demonstrated a commitment to supporting party members and improving their welfare.

Oyebamiji expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the August 15 governorship election, adding that initiatives aimed at improving members’ livelihoods would further strengthen the party’s grassroots support.