The chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara State, Sunday Fagbemi, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure an easy victory in the 2027 presidential election, citing the party’s growing control of states across the country.
Mr Fagbemi spoke during a stakeholders’ engagement and the official flag-off of the APC’s e-registration and membership revalidation exercise in Ilorin.
He said with the APC now controlling about 30 states, President Tinubu’s re-election bid would be a “smooth sail.”
“During our National Executive Committee meeting in December, Mr President took stock and realised that the APC had 28 governors as of then. As of now, two more have joined or are on the brink of joining, meaning we now have about 30 governors,” he said.
“Looking at this, it means the President’s re-election will be a smooth sail. What remains is for each of us at the sub-national level to ensure that we deliver our states.”
The APC chairman commended Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq for what he described as loyalty and cooperation with the Federal Government.
“Governor AbdulRazaq is not arrogant, not headstrong, and not in unhealthy competition with the President. He understands the importance of the President, and this attitude has reflected in the development the President has brought to Kwara, including the tax relief,” Mr Fagbemi said.
He added that the ongoing registration and revalidation exercise marked the beginning of preparations for the 2027 general election.
“With this exercise, the foundation of the next election is being laid. It is about mobilising people to vote for the party so that you have people who will vote for you,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Governor AbdulRazaq, who was recorded as the first registrant in the exercise in the state, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening the party and generating accurate data for effective planning.
He urged party officials to allow all eligible persons willing to join the APC to do so, warning against exclusion.
“It is important that we know how many of us are members of this exclusive club, which is arguably the biggest party in Africa. This is the only party that has developed Nigeria, the states, and the local governments,” the governor said.
“We want to know how many we are so that we can enumerate properly, canvass properly, protect ourselves properly, and empower ourselves properly, leaving no one behind,” he added.
Mr AbdulRazaq charged officials handling the registration to be inclusive and proactive in canvassing new members.
“Do not exclude anyone. We need all the members we can get. You should not only register existing members but also go out and canvas for new ones,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to market the party. You have seen the work done at the federal, state, and local government levels. Use that to expand the party beyond where it used to be.”
The governor said his administration had implemented projects across key sectors, making Kwara State more developed and viable than in the past.
“The facts speak for themselves across every sector. We have recorded sterling performances that everyone can see in every part of the state,” he said.
He also noted that possession of a National Identity Number (NIN) is a requirement for registration into the party.
