Obanikoro APC unity appeal urges party members to put primary election differences aside and support Bola Tinubu and Lagos candidates in 2027
Musiliu Obanikoro, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council in Lagos State, called on APC members to close ranks and support the party’s candidates as campaigns for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections formally began on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Also read: Dickson Rejects NDC Merger as 2027 Opposition Race Heats Up
Obanikoro made the appeal at an interfaith prayer organised by the party in Lagos to mark the start of electioneering activities.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed September 9 as the official date for the commencement of campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing party members, Obanikoro acknowledged that many APC supporters had backed different aspirants during the party’s primary elections. He said the conclusion of those contests should now pave the way for reconciliation and collective action.
The former senator urged members to set aside disagreements generated during the primaries and work towards the success of the party’s candidates at the general election.
“We competed with dignity. Let us campaign with respect. Let us disagree without becoming enemies,” Obanikoro said.
His appeal comes as political parties across Nigeria begin moving from internal selection processes into a more public and competitive phase of the 2027 electoral cycle.
For the APC in Lagos, maintaining unity will be particularly important as the party seeks to consolidate its political strength in the state while defending its position at the national level.
Obanikoro said party members could have different political preferences during internal contests, but those differences should not become permanent divisions.
He urged supporters to approach the campaign as members of one political organisation and to avoid personal attacks or disagreements that could weaken the party’s structure.
The campaign council chief also appealed for peaceful electioneering, warning against allowing political differences to develop into personal conflicts.
The prayer session provided a quieter beginning to the campaign season, with party members gathering to seek what Obanikoro described as divine guidance before the intensity of electioneering increases.
“We are gathered yesterday for a simple but profound purpose: to place this political journey in the hands of God before the campaigns begin,” he said.
Obanikoro said political campaigns require more than organisation and hard work, arguing that party members should also seek wisdom and protection for those involved in the electoral process.
“Our prayer today is simple: let God go before us. Let Him go before our party; let Him go before our candidates; let Him guide our leaders and protect our members and supporters,” he said.
He specifically urged APC supporters to work towards the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and the election of Obafemi Hamzat, while maintaining discipline throughout the campaign period.
The appeal reflects the APC’s broader effort to turn the start of the campaign season into an opportunity for mobilisation rather than renewed internal competition.
Primary elections can leave behind competing loyalties, particularly where several influential figures had sought the same nomination.
Obanikoro’s message was that those contests should now be treated as concluded, with the party’s candidates receiving the collective support of its members.
He also reminded supporters that political office is temporary and urged them to avoid actions that could permanently damage relationships within the party or wider society.
The Lagos APC campaign chief called for “one purpose, one message and one determination” as members begin campaigning for the party’s candidates.
His remarks also placed emphasis on the tone of the campaign, suggesting that political competition need not prevent disagreements from being handled with restraint and mutual respect.
With the campaign period now officially under way, parties will face the challenge of presenting their programmes to voters while managing internal rivalries and competing political interests.
For the Lagos APC, Obanikoro’s message is centred on unity, discipline and peaceful engagement as the party prepares for what is expected to be a closely watched 2027 election.
Also read: Dickson Rejects NDC Merger as 2027 Opposition Race Heats Up
The interfaith gathering therefore served both as a moment of reflection and as an early political signal: the APC wants its members to move beyond the primary contests and enter the election season with a shared commitment to the party’s candidates.
