Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) don promise say dem go stop Peter Obi from repeating im 2023 presidential election victory for the state, as the party don begin prepare to secure another term for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, talk say the result of the last presidential election don serve as wake-up call for the party, as dem dey increase efforts to gather support across different states and local government areas ahead of the January 16, 2027 election.
Ojelabi also support the Rainbow Coalition wey Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dey promote. E talk say different political groups and important people from different backgrounds don come together because dem want Tinubu to remain President.
Peter Obi, wey be former Anambra State Governor, contest the 2023 presidential election under Labour Party and defeat Tinubu for Lagos, wey be Tinubu home state and one of APC strongest states.
Speaking during an interview with The PUNCH, Ojelabi talk say APC no dey relax because dem be the ruling party. E explain say the party dey reach out to voters to tell dem wetin Tinubu government don achieve in the last three and half years.
E talk say:
“We can see the seriousness the All Progressives Congress attached to the forthcoming general election. You can also see that most of the political activities taking place are centred around the APC. You can see our people moving from one state to another as well as from one local government to another.
“I am sure you can also see the number of support groups from different states and regions coming up to show their solidarity and support to the presidential candidate of the APC.
“For the mere fact that we are the ruling party, we are not taking that for granted. We are reaching out to the electorate and telling them what the Tinubu administration has achieved in the last three and a half years and the need to consolidate that.
“So, as I earlier said, we are not taking anything for granted. Let them (electorate) take ownership of the 2027 general election.”
When dem ask am wetin Lagos APC dey plan to make sure say Obi no repeat im 2023 victory, Ojelabi express confidence say the party go perform better for the next election.
E talk say:
“Definitely, that will not happen again. What happened in the 2023 election only helped to strengthen us in the APC. This is because we know Lagos has remained the only state in the whole country that has been governed by only one political party since 1999.
“So, as I said, what happened in last year’s poll was a wake-up call. Wait and see the wonder that we are going to perform in the forthcoming January 16, 2027 election.”
However, the APC chairman no reveal the exact steps wey the party wan take to stop Obi. E insist say dem go focus on wetin Tinubu government don achieve and depend on voters to support the President again.
Ojelabi talk say na through their votes Lagos people fit show whether dem want APC to continue governing the state and country.
On Wike Rainbow Coalition, Ojelabi explain say APC no too concern about the political parties wey the people involved belong to. According to am, the main thing na their support for Tinubu second term.
E talk say:
“Whether coalition or no coalition, everybody is speaking one language; the language of making sure that President Bola Tinubu return to Aso Rock, irrespective of wherever they are coming from. What is important is for us to consolidate and bring forth the votes required for the President’s re-election in 2027.”
The Rainbow Coalition don become one of the political discussions ahead of the 2027 election, as different politicians and groups dey consider alliances wey fit influence the presidential contest.
This development come about one month after Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) express confidence say im presidential candidate go defeat Tinubu for Lagos in 2027, even with a bigger margin than the one wey dem record in 2023.
NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, talk say Obi victory over Tinubu for Lagos in 2023 no happen by luck, but na because of the political feeling among people for the state.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent about the party preparation for the 2027 election, Director talk say:
“Obi didn’t win Lagos by magic. It was a political reality. The people overwhelmingly rejected APC and their former governor who was the presidential candidate of the party.”
Obi victory for Lagos during the 2023 presidential election shock many people, as e beat expectations for a state wey Tinubu and APC don control politically for many years.
