The National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Mary Alile Idele, on Wednesday stated that female voters will account for 67 per cent of the votes cast for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Idele stated this in Akure, Ondo State, during a sensitisation and empowerment programme for women under the Project 774 Explode Initiative, where she also unveiled plans to mobilise female voters across the country’s 774 local government areas ahead of the next general election.
Addressing a gathering of women leaders, party faithful, and grassroots entrepreneurs, Idele described women as the backbone of Nigeria’s electoral process, stating that no candidate could emerge victorious without their active participation and support.

She emphasised that the APC was leaving nothing to chance in its quest to secure a second term for President Tinubu, with women serving as the party’s strategic electoral asset.

“Women across this country are mobilising, and they are ready. If we are not voting, nobody is winning. We are telling them that 4+4 must be eight, and our women are going to deliver 67 per cent of the votes for Mr President in 2027,” she stated.

The Project 774 Explode Initiative, which Dr Idele said would serve as the primary vehicle for women’s political mobilisation, was designed to reach female voters at the grassroots level, equipping them with the tools and awareness needed to participate actively in the electoral process.

The programme, she noted, would complement ongoing efforts by the Tinubu administration to improve the lives of Nigerian women through various social intervention programmes.

Idele further dismissed suggestions that Tinubu’s re-election bid could face challenges, describing such notions as misplaced.

She argued that the administration’s bold reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of the foreign exchange market, were necessary sacrifices that would yield long-term dividends for the country.

“A lot of difficult decisions have been made, and a lot more need to be made to get to where we are heading. The APC family will be winning the next election without any question of doubt,” she said.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to gender inclusivity.

He described gender equality as a fundamental pillar of democratic governance and economic development, noting that women occupy key positions in his cabinet and benefit from targeted empowerment schemes.

He stressed that “we must move beyond advocacy to practical commitments” to ensure women’s full participation in governance.

The governor’s wife, Esther Aiyedatiwa, harped on the programme’s objective of breaking down social, cultural, and economic barriers that have historically hindered women’s leadership aspirations.

She called on participants to apply the leadership, advocacy, and campaign skills acquired during the training to position themselves for greater roles in public life.

The commissioner for women affairs in the state, Dr Seun Osamaye, stated that numerous women have benefited from grants, skills acquisition programmes, and entrepreneurship support under the current administration.

She said beneficiaries of the initiative were drawn from both APC members and grassroots entrepreneurs across the state, reflecting an inclusive approach to women’s empowerment.