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From Isaac Job, Uyo and Oladele Onatade
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and political groups supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election have stepped up grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the appointment of a 325-member campaign council led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Umo Eno and former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Assam Assam, in Akwa Ibom State, while a coalition of political interests in Osun State has set a target of between 1.5 million and two million votes for the President.
The separate initiatives are aimed at strengthening the President’s political structures at ward and local government levels, with the Akwa Ibom APC assembling senior government officials and political stakeholders to coordinate its campaign, while the Osun coalition seeks to mobilise support across party lines.
In Akwa Ibom, the APC named Akpabio as Grand Patron of its campaign council, with Chief Michael Afangideh as Patron, while Governor Eno will serve as Coordinator and Chairman of the council.
Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, was appointed First Vice Chairman, while the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, will serve as Second Vice Chairman.
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Assam Assam, was named Director-General of the campaign organisation.
Other members include the Secretary to the State Government, Enobong Uwah, serving commissioners, political stakeholders drawn from the 31 local government areas and the wife of the Senate President, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio.
The composition of the council was announced in a statement issued by the state APC Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo, and made available to journalists in Uyo.
Ntukekpo explained that the 325-member list was not final, as consultations were continuing to accommodate other political stakeholders and interest groups across the state.
“The party wishes to clarify that the list, as presently released, is not exhaustive.
“Efforts are ongoing to ensure that all relevant sectors, interests and stakeholders are adequately represented in keeping with the party’s commitment to inclusivity and broad-based participation,” he said.
The chairman directed members of the council to commence consultations and other preparatory activities immediately, pending its formal inauguration.
The campaign structure is expected to coordinate political activities across the state’s 31 local government areas and their constituent wards, bringing together government officials, party leaders and other stakeholders involved in the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, in Osun State, a coalition of political parties and support groups has announced an ambitious mobilisation drive for Tinubu, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, setting a minimum target of 1.5 million votes.
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Speaking through the APC governorship candidate for the 2026 election, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, Oyetola said the President’s re-election campaign was attracting support beyond the traditional boundaries of the ruling party.
“I appreciate the fact that the re-election project of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to attract support beyond the traditional boundaries of our great political party, APC. It cuts across party lines. Individuals and political interests are increasing tremendously, recognising the importance of continuity and the need to sustain the reforms and development programme of our President’s administration,” he said.
The minister urged members of the coalition to translate their political declarations into votes at polling units, stressing that the South-West must demonstrate its support through effective grassroots organisation.
“There’s no doubt that the presidential campaign of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is highly feasible and increasingly gaining momentum across the country. The political structure, the grassroots network and advocacy machinery supporting his re-election are already evident in our region.
“This gives us an enormous responsibility to ensure that the South-West will deliver overwhelming votes for our father, our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our strength must be reflected not just in a political declaration, but in votes that we cast in all our polling units,” he stated.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who also addressed the gathering, said the cooperation among the participating political interests was principally directed at the presidential election, indicating that their alliance was not necessarily intended to extend to other electoral contests.
“As we move out to the corners and grassroots of Osun society, I must repeat that our partnership and coalition unity is mainly based on the presidential election,” Adeleke said.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Sunday Asuku, urged members of the coalition to intensify their engagement with voters across the state and disregard attempts by opposition groups to undermine their mobilisation efforts.
Asuku argued that Tinubu deserved another term because of what he described as the administration’s willingness to undertake difficult economic reforms, despite the hardship associated with some of the policies.
He described the President as a leader committed to the participation of women and young people in governance, urging supporters to demonstrate their commitment through voter mobilisation.
“No governor is owing pension. Everything is moving smoothly. This can only be done under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our plea to you in Osun State today is that you should come out massively on January 16th, 2027,” he said.
Asuku claimed that Osun had about two million voters and expressed confidence that the coalition could mobilise as many as 1.9 million votes for Tinubu.
“There are about two million voters in Osun, with no less than 1.9 million votes up for grabs in Osun State. The votes should be in the bag for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
The mobilisation efforts in Akwa Ibom and Osun come as political parties and support groups expand their organisational structures ahead of the 2027 elections, with attention increasingly shifting to ward-level engagement, voter registration and the coordination of campaign activities.
