Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West have agreed to address internal disagreements and unite behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The resolution was reached at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting of the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s South-West Directorate of Stakeholders Mobilisation, held in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together party leaders and representatives from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states to discuss reconciliation, political engagement and strategies for mobilising support ahead of the elections.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, who coordinates the directorate’s stakeholder engagement activities in the region, called on party leaders to reach out to members who felt aggrieved by previous political developments.
Fashola said members who emerged victorious in party contests should demonstrate magnanimity by embracing those who felt marginalised, stressing that unresolved disagreements could affect the party’s ability to work collectively ahead of the presidential election.
He acknowledged that there were aggrieved members within the party but urged stakeholders to put their differences aside in the interest of a united political front.
The former governor also disclosed that 10 representatives had been selected from each of the six South-West states to participate in the engagement process.
He explained that the committee intended to establish stronger consultation and mobilisation structures to bring different political interests together and expand the party’s support base.
Fashola said the mobilisation strategy would extend beyond existing APC members to include newly registered voters and individuals who had previously participated in elections but had become less enthusiastic about voting.
He noted that the party needed to understand the concerns of these categories of voters and engage them as part of its preparations for the 2027 elections.
According to him, every vote would be important, making it necessary for the party to broaden its engagement with different sections of the electorate.
Speaking after the meeting, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said representatives of different political interests across the region had agreed to set aside their grievances and support Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Mimiko said the stakeholders had resolved to work together despite their differences, adding that the agreement was reached in the interest of the President, the South-West and the country.
He also expressed support for some of the policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly in tertiary education and digital infrastructure.
The former governor identified the more predictable academic calendar in tertiary institutions as one of the developments stakeholders considered significant for students and their families.
He also highlighted plans to expand access to tertiary education and extend fibre-optic infrastructure to improve digital connectivity and learning opportunities.
However, Mimiko acknowledged that the administration was not without shortcomings, while maintaining that the stakeholders were prepared to support its continuation.
Also speaking, former Ekiti State Governor, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured the gathering of the region’s commitment to working together for the APC and Tinubu’s re-election.
The meeting was attended by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Secretary of the Governance Advisory Council, Mutiu Are; and other party leaders and stakeholders.
The reconciliation and mobilisation efforts come as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The APC stakeholders said their engagement would continue across the six South-West states as they work towards resolving internal disagreements, strengthening party structures and expanding support for the President’s re-election campaign.
