The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Lagos party chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, have called on the party’s leaders, chieftains, and members in Lagos State to secure the state for President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as Lagos State governor, and all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
In addition, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged steadfast unity, resilience, and aggressive grassroots mobilization ahead of the coming electoral cycles.
Yilwatda, Sanwo-Olu, and Ojelabi issued the call yesterday at a one-day retreat for party leaders and senior members of the PBAT-KOH Campaign Council, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
The retreat carried the theme “One Roof, One Tent, One Friend, One Shared Responsibility,” with Yilwatda emphasizing the need for one team working toward a common mission.
“When we say we have one team, we simply mean that every leader, every appointee, every party structure must walk towards the bigger mission and vision of the party to win an election.
“Anything outside that is of personal interest. No single individual, regardless of how influential, can win an election,” he said.
He stated that he came to Lagos for two strategic reasons—its status as the state with the highest number of registered voters and the party’s loss of the state in the last presidential election.
“Lagos has over 7 million registered voters. It is the center of commerce, the political nerve of this country. If you win Lagos, you almost won Nigeria. If Lagos speaks, Nigeria speaks,” he said. “Secondly, I’m here because last election we lost Lagos. So I want to speak to Lagosians. This time around, it is our time to deliver Lagos. First, to Mr. President, and then deliver to our governor, and deliver to all our National Assembly members and House of Assembly members. This is a must-do for us,” Yilwatda said.
He stated that the party needs to safeguard its organizational strength by strengthening ties with the grassroots and communicating its achievements.
Yilwatda cautioned against what he called elective amnesia, whereby members cast a vote for president but not for governor, or for senator but not for the House of Assembly.
“If you vote for Mr. President and you don’t have the National Assembly, how do we run government? If you vote for the governor and you don’t vote for the House of Assembly to concur with constitutional amendments, how do you move forward? APC needs a majority in the National Assembly and House of Assembly,” he said.
Speaking on internal disagreements, the National Chairman stated that ambition and differences are natural in a large party, but they must not be taken to extremes.
The road to ballot requires preparation, patience, honest communication, and willingness to put collective responsibility above personal differences.
“Let us build structures, strengthen relationships with grassroots, and resolve differences. Let’s make Lagos win this time,” he said.
Emphasizing how much perseverance matters within the party, the governor drew on the analogy of a 1,000 naira note to show that genuine worth and face value stay intact even when temporary political pressures and economic squeezes come into play.
Sanwo-Olu observed that consistency and loyalty are ultimately rewarded, pointing to dedicated members who remained steadfast through difficult electoral contests before rising to prominent national and state positions, such as Yilwatda.
“This father, this leader we call Mr. President, has not only transgressed this country with development, but he has also shown us in Lagos what true federal government development tastes like. This man has demonstrated his capacity, and what we’re asking for is just for us to have an electioneering process that will deliver millions of votes for him in the next coming elections,” he said.
He voiced firm confidence that, by working with a shared purpose and cohesive teamwork, the party will keep delivering sustainable growth and strong electoral victories starting from Lagos.
Earlier, the State APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, urged party leaders and members of the campaign council to function as a single team in order to secure five million votes for the party’s candidates, led by President Bola Tinubu, with Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as Governor in the 2027 general elections.
“The time for preparation must translate into purposeful action, measurable progress, and, ultimately, victory at the ballot,” Ojelabi said.
Speaking on the electoral target, Ojelabi stated that the party is aiming for five million votes out of the seven million votes it has set as its goal in Lagos.
Earlier, the Director-General of the PBAT-KOH Campaign Council, Senator Musilu Obanikoro, emphasized that “the road to the ballot is a journey that demands more than enthusiasm and political strength. It calls for a clear vision, a shared strategy, defined responsibilities, effective communication, and a united leadership able to mobilize our structures and supporters toward a common destination.”
