S’West APC leaders close ranks, endorse Tinubu’s re-election

Political leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the South-West, under the aegis of South-West Stakeholders’ Council, have resolved to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, despite internal disagreements within the party.

They, however, committed to reconcile aggrieved members and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the general elections.

The resolution followed a meeting of South-West APC stakeholders in Lagos yesterday, where leaders from the six states of the region reviewed the performance of the Tinubu-led administration, discussed the party’s electoral prospects and agreed on strategies to strengthen its structures ahead of the next general elections.

Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who read the communique issued at the end of the meeting, said the stakeholders had agreed to put aside their political differences and work towards securing another presidential term for Tinubu.

Those present included former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy and APC governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; former Ekiti State Governor, Niyi Adebayo; former Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, and Secretary of the council, Senator Fatai Buhari, among other party leaders and stakeholders.

Mimiko said the meeting provided an opportunity for representatives of different political tendencies within the party to assess the administration’s policies, acknowledge its challenges and agree on a common position ahead of 2027.

He said the stakeholders were satisfied with the direction of the Tinubu administration and believed that its ongoing programmes offered prospects for a better future, despite the difficulties Nigerians were experiencing.

The former governor identified education as one of the areas where the administration had recorded progress, particularly efforts to improve the stability of the academic calendar and expand access to higher education.

He also highlighted investments in digital infrastructure and opportunities for young Nigerians to access education and acquire knowledge through cyberspace, adding that such initiatives would better prepare them for future challenges.

Mimiko said the stakeholders had resolved to take the administration’s achievements and policies to the grassroots, using language and explanations that ordinary Nigerians could understand rather than relying exclusively on economic statistics and policy pronouncements.

He added that the meeting had agreed that disagreements arising from the party’s primaries and other internal contests should not be allowed to undermine the collective political interests of the South-West.

On security, the former Ondo State governor expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important step towards decentralising the country’s security architecture and improving the capacity of governments to tackle insecurity.

He attributed the emerging political consensus on the issue to what he described as Tinubu’s political sagacity, expressing confidence that decentralisation would strengthen security management across the country.

In his opening remarks, Fashola urged APC leaders across the region to intensify voter mobilisation, reconcile aggrieved members and address internal divisions that could weaken the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.

The former governor said the responsibility of securing electoral victory should not be left to elected office holders and party leaders alone, stressing that artisans, trade union members, newly registered voters and other grassroots groups must be actively involved in the mobilisation efforts.

He disclosed plans to establish a secretariat as a central coordinating point for consultations, communication and engagement with party structures and interest groups across the six South-West states.

According to him, the proposed arrangement would provide a platform for regular interaction with stakeholders, identify challenges within the party and generate recommendations for addressing grievances capable of affecting its electoral fortunes.

Fashola explained that issues that could be resolved at the zonal level would be handled accordingly, while matters requiring national intervention would be referred to the appropriate authorities.

He, however, cautioned against adopting a uniform approach to political engagement across the region, insisting that the peculiarities of individual states and localities must be recognised.

Fashola also urged those who emerged victorious in previous party contests to reach out to members who might have been dissatisfied with the outcomes, warning that unresolved grievances could undermine the party’s collective objective.

Also speaking, former Ekiti State Governor, Niyi Adebayo, called for intensified efforts to expand the party’s voter base across the South-West ahead of the January election.

Adebayo said the various mobilisation initiatives being undertaken by political groups and stakeholders should be coordinated towards the common objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election.

Similarly, Senator Buhari appealed to political leaders and stakeholders across the region to cooperate in pursuing the President’s re-election.