Nigeria is on the path to what an All Progressives Congress chieftain, Gloria Akobundu, described as renewed greatness, with the party intensifying its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Akobundu, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Women Mobilisation Wing, made the declaration in Abuja during the APC Women Stakeholders’ Mobilisation and Empowerment Pre-Inaugural Summit convened by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
She urged women across the country to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, arguing that continuity would be necessary to consolidate the reforms introduced by the administration.
Akobundu particularly appealed to women voters in the South-East and other parts of the country to support the APC during the 2027 elections.
She said the administration’s reform programme needed continuity to achieve what she described as the transformation already underway.
The APC chieftain’s comments came as more than 500 women support groups from the six geopolitical zones were reportedly brought together under the party’s presidential campaign structure.
The groups, which organisers said included grassroots platforms such as the Torch Bearers, endorsed Tinubu for another term in office.
Akobundu, who also serves as Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Faith-Based Mobilisation for Christians, said the women’s support would be important to the party’s electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 poll.
She urged the women to return to their communities and states to mobilise voters for Tinubu and other APC candidates contesting at various levels.
The summit was attended by APC women leaders, First Ladies of APC-controlled states, state women leaders, faith-based mobilisers and grassroots organisers.
The gathering reflects the ruling party’s growing emphasis on grassroots mobilisation as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.
Addressing the women, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu defended the administration’s economic reform programme and said the Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0 had moved from policy declarations towards measurable changes.
She said the agenda, themed “From Reforms to Prosperity,” was aimed at translating the government’s reforms into broader economic and social benefits for Nigerians.
The First Lady cited falling inflation, growing foreign reserves, increased investor interest and additional support for farmers among developments she said demonstrated progress under the administration.
She also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, noting that university students were accessing loans through the scheme as part of the government’s education interventions.
Oluremi Tinubu urged the women leaders and grassroots organisers to take the administration’s message back to their respective communities.
She described President Tinubu as a leader willing to make difficult decisions and expressed confidence that the government’s policies would eventually lead the country towards greater prosperity.
The mobilisation campaign is taking place as the 2027 presidential contest begins to take clearer shape.
Tinubu is seeking re-election on the APC platform, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde are among the opposition figures pursuing the presidency under different political platforms.
The APC has already endorsed Tinubu as its presidential candidate for 2027 and retained Vice-President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
The ruling party is expected to rely heavily on its expanding political structure and the performance record of the Tinubu administration as key elements of its campaign.
APC officials have previously pointed to the number of governors and political figures who have joined the party since the 2023 election as evidence of its strengthened structure ahead of the next presidential contest.
The party has also been expanding its mobilisation structures across geopolitical zones, with women expected to play a significant role in grassroots voter engagement.
At the Abuja summit, organisers announced plans for six zonal mega rallies that would eventually culminate in a major rally in the Federal Capital Territory.
The campaign structure is also expected to focus on economic empowerment, with livelihood support items distributed to women during the event.
The items included tricycles, sewing machines, refrigerators and agricultural implements intended to help beneficiaries strengthen their businesses and household incomes.
For the APC, such empowerment initiatives form part of its broader effort to connect political mobilisation with practical support for communities.
However, the administration’s economic record is likely to remain a major issue in the 2027 campaign, with opposition parties expected to challenge the government’s assessment of its reforms and their impact on household living costs.
The competing narratives are already shaping the emerging electoral contest, with the APC emphasising reform, investment and economic stabilisation while opposition figures continue to question the effect of government policies on ordinary Nigerians.
As the election approaches, women voters will remain an important constituency for all major political parties because of their significant participation in grassroots political mobilisation and electoral activities.
The APC’s latest summit therefore signals an effort to consolidate its women-focused campaign structure well ahead of election day.
With the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, the ruling party is positioning Tinubu’s reform agenda and its promise of continuity at the centre of its campaign message.
Whether the message of renewed greatness resonates with voters will ultimately depend on how Nigerians assess the administration’s economic reforms, security record, public services and overall living conditions as they head to the polls.