Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have dismissed the possibility of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other opposition contenders defeating President Bola Tinubu in the state during the 2027 general election.
The party leaders expressed confidence that the APC would secure a better outcome in Lagos, insisting that it had addressed the internal issues and political miscalculations blamed for Tinubu’s defeat in the state during the 2023 presidential election.
They made the remarks while speaking with journalists at a political gathering organised by President Tinubu’s daughter and Nigeria’s Iyaloja-General, Dr Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.
Speaking on the party’s preparations, the Lagos State Director-General of the Iyaloja General Movement (IGM), Barrister Adejumbo Omofumilewa, described the inauguration of the movement as a mini-rally in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Omofumilewa expressed optimism that the APC would perform better in Lagos, arguing that the party had learned from the mistakes that contributed to its poor showing in the state during the last presidential election.
He attributed Tinubu’s 2023 defeat in Lagos to the party’s failure to properly assess the political situation, describing the development as a betrayal.
“What happened in 2023 that made our candidate lose the presidential election in Lagos State has already been taken care of, because now, everybody is following him,” he said.
Peter Obi Not a Threat, APC Leader Insists
The APC chieftain also dismissed concerns that Obi and other opposition candidates could pose a serious challenge to the ruling party in Lagos in 2027.
“Obi is not a threat, neither is any party a threat in Lagos State. We are in charge,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the IGM, Dr Nasiru Ladan, disclosed that the movement had attracted more than 2,500 support groups, with several other organisations expressing interest in joining.
He said the groups had been integrated into the movement’s structure, adding that efforts were underway to establish a database of supporters across states and local government areas.
According to Ladan, the organisation had begun building its grassroots mobilisation network from the state level down to local governments and wards.
He explained that the movement planned to appoint 10 facilitators in every polling unit, with each facilitator expected to mobilise 100 voters.
Ladan said the strategy was designed to help the movement achieve its target of securing 10 million votes for Tinubu, although he did not explain how the proposed target would be independently verified.
Also speaking, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, said the party was taking the 2027 general election seriously and would not leave anything to chance.
He noted that APC activities and support groups were already expanding across states and local government areas as part of efforts to mobilise voters for the president.
Ojelabi added that the party was engaging Nigerians to highlight the achievements of Tinubu’s administration and seek public support for its policies and programmes.
He described the 2023 presidential election in Lagos as a wake-up call for the APC, noting that the party had governed the state continuously since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
According to him, the experience had strengthened the party’s determination to intensify its political activities ahead of the next election.
The APC chairman also commended Tinubu-Ojo for bringing Iyaloja Generals from different parts of the country together under the movement to mobilise support for her father’s re-election.
In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the IGM, Prince Mendy Achibong, expressed confidence in the movement’s growing political presence in the state.
He pledged that Akwa Ibom would deliver more than 80 per cent of its votes to Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, claiming the proposed performance would surpass the state’s showing in the previous election.
