… One-million-vote target on course for President – AMG

The United Artisan Group has declared its support for the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, pledging to mobilise more than 700,000 votes for the through the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) in Ondo State.

The declaration took place in Akure, the state capital, with leaders and members of various artisan associations, including the Nigeria Association of Tailors and other allied bodies, as well as hairdressers, barbers and other professionals within the informal sector present.

The leadership of the United Artisan Group, under the coordination of Pastor Olaniyi Ale, who mobilised the artisans to the gathering, stressing that artisans would continue to participate actively in issues concerning governance, economic opportunities and national development.

He described the artisan community as a critical constituency whose voices and votes would matter in the coming election.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Olugbenga Ale, a former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, described the artisans as an important constituency in the political landscape of Ondo State.

Receiving the group on behalf of AMG, the Director-General of the organisation in the state, Asiwaju Muyiwa Asagunla, expressed appreciation to the artisans for identifying with the movement and for recognising what he described as the opportunities created through the platform associated with Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Asagunla said the growing support from different professional and community groups would strengthen AMG’s grassroots mobilisation structure, adding that the organisation’s previously announced one-million-vote project for President Tinubu could receive further impetus from the latest development.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the United Artisan Group, Mr Sobande, commended the Tinubu administration for what he described as opportunities and interventions available to artisans.

He said the group was particularly interested in programmes relating to training, empowerment and the development of the informal sector, promising continued support for initiatives it believes would benefit artisans.

A former NLC Chairman in Ondo State, Comrade Bosede Daramola, observed that the gathering was critical due to the number of artisans openly expressing their political support for the President.

She said the group was encouraged by what she described as government attention to artisans and called for sustained engagement with the sector.

One of the major highlights of the event was the presentation of a brand-new Siena bus to the group to facilitate and strengthen the activities and grassroots mobilisation of AMG in Ondo State.

The State Public Relations Officer of the group, Comrade Ale Sunday Omojowo, also reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to work for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying members would intensify their mobilisation and engagement with artisans and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.