The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday said the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 required the support and collaborative efforts of all groups and the party members.
The APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, stated this while receiving the executives of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Ideological Group at the party’s secretariat in Lagos.
Ojelabi, who was represented by his deputy, Prince Moshood Mayegun, noted that the party was ready to do everything within its powers, to guarantee victory for Tinubu.
Ojelabi said: “Sincerely, we are overwhelmed by this number you mobilised. You have shown support to the party and we are happy.
“We share the same vision of promoting the party and ensuring success of APC in the 2027 elections and beyond.
“We deem it necessary to interact with you on how you want to come in and how you want to ensure the success for our party in 2027.
“This job is not a thing we can achieve alone, it requires synergy and purposeful collaboration to deliver Tinubu for a second term.”
Commending the group’s belief in President Tinubu, Ojelabi assured that they would not labour in vain.
“We appreciate that you have put machineries in place to do this job. You will not have cause to regret the relationship we are building today.
“We must do everything humanly possible to ensure the success of APC in 2027 general elections,” Ojelabi added.
The party chairman urged the group’s leadership to step up women and youth mobilisation and to drive campaign for Tinubu, when the ban is lifted.
Earlier in his address titled”Not Everyone can be Appointed; But Everyone can be Carried Along”, the Convener of Prince Bamidele Atoyebi, said the movement was inspired by the vision and principles of President Tinubu.
Atoyebi, who noted that the movement, had on Sept. 18, launched the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Ideological Group Handbook in Abuja, was working hard on same project for Lagos.
According to him, the group has been active since 2023 with the objective of institutionalising the values, and political ideology of Tinubu for the next generation.
“Our mission is to raise leaders who can carry the spirit, knowledge, discipline and ideology of our mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Just as Chief Obafemi Awolowo (the first Premier of Western Region) inspired generations, Tinubu has built a political legacy that must endure and we are committed to replacing that leadership models across Lagos, Southwest and the entire nation.
“We are working to train and mentor young people through political education, leadership summits and value-based empowerment. We believe that when great leaders are replicated, great nations are sustained, ” Atoyebi said.
He said the group’s programmes for 2027 and beyond included youth political debates and quizzes across wards, local governments and street sports.
He listed the others as awards and business grants as well as other activities to encourage political participation.
“Our strategy for winning Lagos for APC in 2027 is simple: We plan to expand our grassroots reach beyond our strongholds, to ensure that APC remains the party of the people.
“We will reach the youths through continuous sensitisation, empowerment and education.
“We will speak their language through street debates, games and social activities, while grounding them in the ideology of progressivism,” he said.
He noted that the movement would work with party leadership in the state to ensure Tinubu’s victory in 2027 presidential election.
Also speaking, Alhaji Sulaiman Tejumade, the group’s patron and ally of President Tinubu, urged the party to intensify efforts towards endearing itself to the hearts of aggrieved party members.
Tejumade urged the party leadership to reward loyalists who had lost interest in working for the party, following neglect by elective and appointive representatives.
Tejumade advised that everyone must be carried along to ensure to reverse the increasing decrease in the votes for the party in elections.
