Southwest APC leaders unite behind Tinubu’s re-election — Mimiko

…Fashola flags off reconciliation drive, urges aggrieved members to close ranks By Olasunkanmi Akoni Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the six Southwest states have resolved to set aside internal disagreements and work together to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after a meeting of the party’s presidential campaign stakeholders in the Southwest, held in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Mimiko said representatives of different political interests across the region had agreed to put their differences aside and speak with one voice in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition. He said the commitment was reached despite existing internal disagreements and the broader challenges facing the country. “We have heard from all of the representatives of one house, all of the representatives of the states who are here.

“They also represent very different interests in their respective states, but they have spoken with one voice. “We have all agreed that we bury all grievances, all intra-party differences, in the interest of Asiwaju, Yoruba land, and the future of our great country,” Mimiko said. The meeting was attended by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Secretary of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, Otunba Mutiu Are; former governors and other APC chieftains from the region.

Assessing the Tinubu administration, Mimiko said stakeholders expressed satisfaction with some of its policies, particularly in tertiary education and digital infrastructure. He identified the stabilisation of the academic calendar in tertiary institutions as one of the administration’s achievements, saying it had provided greater certainty for students and their families.

“We have agreed that, perhaps for the first time in our recent history, every home in Yoruba land that has students in institutions in Nigeria knows that there is a predictable calendar. This never happened before,” he said. Mimiko also said the stakeholders supported plans to expand access to tertiary education and extend the country’s fibre-optic infrastructure to improve digital learning opportunities for young people.

On the campaign strategy, he said the party would explain the administration’s economic reforms in local languages and simple terms to help Nigerians understand their implications for households. He further expressed optimism that the proposed establishment of state police would soon materialise, citing Tinubu’s role in building national consensus around decentralised security.

While acknowledging that the President was not without shortcomings, Mimiko said the administration’s policy direction and actions had convinced the stakeholders to support his re-election. “Asiwaju is not a perfect human being, but thanks to courage and conviction of action, he has done well. And we are going to support him to continue along this path,” he added.

Earlier, former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, called on APC leaders across the Southwest to urgently address internal disagreements and reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the 2027 general elections. Fashola, who chairs the Southwest Zone’s Stakeholders Engagement Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said those who emerged victorious in previous party contests should reach out to members who felt marginalised.

“We understand there are aggrieved people. Some are more successful than others, but we expect those who have emerged victorious to embrace those who have been hurt so that we can work together,” he said. He disclosed that 10 delegates had been drawn from each of the six Southwest states as part of efforts to build a united front for the presidential campaign.

Fashola said the party needed to mobilise support beyond its established membership, particularly among first-time voters and those who had become less enthusiastic about participating in elections. “We want every political interest to align for the presidential election. Every vote and support we can gather in the next election will be very important.

“If you look at the last election, you will see that there is need for improvement. “Every new voter has become the most important, and those who have voted before but are not enthusiastic are also very important,” he said. He urged party leaders to strengthen grassroots engagement and bring more voters into the party’s campaign efforts. Also speaking, former Ekiti State Governor, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured the gathering of the region’s commitment to working for the APC and Tinubu’s re-election.

“We are here to work together for victory for our party and President Bola Tinubu,” Adebayo said.