2027: South-West APC leaders unite behind Tinubu’s re-election bid

*Fashola, Mimiko, Adebayo lead reconciliation efforts

*Urge aggrieved members to close ranks

South-West leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have pledged to strengthen party unity and resolve internal disagreements as they begin preparations to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The commitment was made at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Directorate of Stakeholders Mobilisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Ikeja, Lagos, where party leaders called for reconciliation and stronger cooperation across the region.

The meeting brought together prominent political figures and party stakeholders from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, with discussions focusing on resolving internal divisions and strengthening the party’s mobilisation structure ahead of the next general election.

Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, urged aggrieved members to set aside their differences and work towards a common political objective, warning that internal disputes could weaken the party’s efforts in the 2027 presidential election.

Fashola called on party members to sheath their swords, embrace reconciliation and recognise their collective responsibility in sustaining the APC’s political strength in the South-West.

He also highlighted the historical pattern of power rotation between the North and South, arguing that the region should work together to protect the current opportunity for southern leadership through political cooperation.

Beyond reconciliation, the former governor urged the party to intensify voter mobilisation, particularly by reaching newly registered voters and Nigerians who had participated in previous elections but had become disengaged from the electoral process.

He said the APC needed to identify the factors responsible for voter apathy and address the concerns discouraging eligible voters from participating in elections.

Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, acknowledged the economic and governance challenges facing the Tinubu administration but maintained that some of its policies and programmes were beginning to produce positive results.

He pointed to developments in the education sector, particularly efforts towards ensuring a more predictable academic calendar in tertiary institutions, as an example of interventions he said were benefiting students and their families.

Mimiko urged party members to acknowledge the administration’s policy initiatives and work collectively to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

The engagement was attended by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; and former Ekiti State Governor, Adeniyi Adebayo, alongside other party leaders.

Representatives of the stakeholders’ mobilisation directorate from the six South-West states also participated in the meeting, reflecting the regional scope of the reconciliation and political mobilisation initiative.

The gathering forms part of the APC’s efforts to address internal disagreements, consolidate its support base and coordinate political activities across the South-West ahead of the 2027 general election.