A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), has vowed to deliver 95 percent of Ondo State’s votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

With the group disclosing that the APC secured 68.9 percent of votes in the state in 2023, it expressed confidence that enhanced grassroots engagement and performance-based voter considerations will propel it to achieve the set target for 2027.

The group, which touts itself as one of the largest mobilisation structures backing Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls, stated this during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to chart a new course following the conclusion of the party’s recent congresses, which left lingering tensions among APC members in the state.

According to the Director-General of the group, Olumuyiwa Asagunla, who outlined a plan to consolidate support across all 203 wards and polling units in the state, the next phase of the group’s engagement will be centred entirely on intensive mobilisation.

With the meeting bringing together the group’s leaders’ council, state executives, local government coordinators, ward leaders, and the women’s wing, Asagunla urged all stakeholders to set aside internal differences and focus entirely on mobilisation efforts for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He said, “We have set the stage for the next phase, which is mobilisation. We are out to mobilise for the re-election and second term of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. By God’s grace, we are also supporting candidates who have positively impacted the lives of the people, whether they are senators, House of Representatives members, or House of Assembly members.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the preferred choice, and by God’s grace, we will see him lead Nigeria beyond 2027. ‎Our target in Ondo State is clear. In the last election, we secured about 68.9 percent. This time, we are aiming for 95 percent. We believe this is achievable and are fully committed to reaching that goal.

“‎On candidates who have not performed, the reality is simple: if you have not touched the lives of the people, you risk losing your seat. Even smaller parties can win positions if they present popular candidates against underperforming incumbents. I am not saying anyone will automatically lose, but performance matters.

“How often do you visit your constituency? Do you respond when people call you? Have you empowered your constituents? Have you provided infrastructure? I often reference the minister of interior. He held a similar position before being elevated. If he had not performed, he would not have been promoted.

“If you want to contest, go back to your people. They know your history and your contributions, and that will determine whether you are voted in or out.”

On his part, the group’s Leaders Council Senator Yele Omogunwa, who leads the group’s Leaders Council, urged members to demonstrate consistency in their loyalty, cautioning against divided allegiances.

“Regarding the congresses, while the state congress has been settled, I am not satisfied with what happened at the local government level. It was not well conducted. We must be committed, bold, and consistent. You cannot claim loyalty during the day and align with other groups at night. We need solidarity, transparency, and unwavering commitment at all times.”

Yetunde Adeyanju, a former commissioner for community development and social services in the state, who leads the group’s women’s wing, disclosed that the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had set a clear target for the wing.

“The principal of this group, the Honourable Minister of Interior, has given the women’s group a target, a long target. His desire is to see that a minimum of 95% of all those staked women vote for Ashiwaju, and that’s the reason why we’re out again, to kick-start the process. To ensure that no woman in all those states is left untouched.”