2027 ELECTION: LAGOS APC STEPS UP MOBILISATION AFTER 2023 PRESIDENTIAL SETBACK

By NaijaParrot | October 25, 2026

Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria 

 Party Targets Millions of Votes for Tinubu and Hamzat as Leaders Call for Unity and Stronger Grassroots Engagement The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, declaring its determination to avoid a repeat of the party’s setback in the state during the 2023 presidential election.  

At a press conference in Ikeja on Sunday, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Director-General of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (PBAT-KOH) Campaign Council, announced the party’s ambition to secure nearly three million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC’s Lagos governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat. 

 Obanikoro described the 2023 presidential election outcome as a wake-up call for the party, noting that the APC had drawn lessons from the experience and was taking steps to strengthen its membership base, improve mobilisation and expand its engagement with voters across the state.

During the 2023 presidential election, the Labour Party’s candidate, Peter Obi, defeated Tinubu in Lagos State, polling 582,454 votes against Tinubu’s 572,606, according to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission. 

 The result represented a significant setback for the APC in a state widely regarded as a major political stronghold for the party. Speaking about the experience, Obanikoro said the party had since taken steps to address the factors it believes contributed to the outcome. He disclosed that the APC had registered approximately one million members in Lagos and expressed confidence that improved participation among members, combined with support from other voters, could help the party achieve its electoral ambitions. 

 The campaign council’s target, however, remains a projection announced by the party rather than a guaranteed electoral outcome. 

 Obanikoro said the campaign council would intensify grassroots mobilisation across Lagos, reaching communities throughout the state to canvass support for the party’s candidates. The strategy is expected to focus on strengthening the party’s presence at the ward and community levels while encouraging members to participate actively in campaign activities ahead of the elections. 

 The campaign director-general also announced that the APC planned to unveil Hamzat’s governorship manifesto on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, in Iganmu, Lagos. According to the campaign council, the manifesto will outline Hamzat’s policy priorities and proposed approach to the continued development of Lagos State. 

 The unveiling is expected to provide the party with an opportunity to present its plans to voters and explain how it intends to address the needs of residents across different communities. 

 Obanikoro said the campaign would be anchored on the principles of continued shared progress and inclusivity. He explained that the party intended to build on existing development plans while ensuring that residents from different backgrounds and communities felt represented in the state’s development agenda. He also said consultations had taken place with various groups, including religious leaders, traditional rulers, traders, market women, young people, professionals, artisans and community stakeholders. 

 The campaign council maintained that such engagements were important for understanding residents’ concerns and incorporating their perspectives into its priorities. Obanikoro further indicated that the manifesto would be made available for public review following its presentation, allowing interested residents to examine the proposals and provide feedback through the appropriate party channels.

 The APC’s latest declaration comes amid broader efforts by party leaders to improve internal unity, strengthen grassroots structures and prepare their members for the next electoral cycle. In recent remarks, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also urged party members to put internal disagreements aside, improve communication with voters and work collectively towards the party’s objectives in 2027.

 The emphasis on unity reflects the importance party leaders place on translating their organisational structures and membership figures into voter support. Nevertheless, the party’s eventual performance will depend on several factors, including voter participation, public confidence, campaign effectiveness, candidates’ proposals and the choices Lagos residents make at the ballot box. 

 As preparations continue, the APC faces the task of convincing voters that its candidates and policies deserve their support while demonstrating that the lessons drawn from the 2023 election have translated into a stronger approach to public engagement. 

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