Lead visioner of the Lagos4Lagos Movement and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), on Thursday inaugurated 900 grassroots political coordinators to work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Apex leaders, divisional, senatorial, local government and ward executives of “Jandor of Lagos Political Grassroots Structure for President Bola Tinubu’s Re-election” were inaugurated at the event in Ikeja.

Speaking, Mr Adediran, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defected to the APC in March, said the structure was self-funded and aimed at ensuring total victory for the party in 2027.

According to him, the movement has existed for nine years and is now repositioned to mobilise support for Mr Tinubu’s second-term bid and for the APC at all levels in the state.

He said, “We know that campaigns have not started, but tomorrow starts today. What we are doing now is to put in place our structure across the 376 wards in Lagos State.

“We will work and ensure APC victory in 2027. Very soon, we are starting another tour of wards. Let everyone buckle up. We will be touring and taking the entire gospel of President Bola Tinubu to every nook and cranny of the state, and I will take the lead.

“We will tour the entire 376 wards. We have what to market the APC government with. We will move from ward to ward to sensitise the people that the gang-up against our leader will not work. The time to work is now,” Mr Adediran said

Mr Adediran said the structure comprised seven-member executives from each of the 57 local councils and 10-member ward committees, as well as coordinators representing non-Yoruba-speaking communities across the state.

He said the coordinators had a duty to educate residents on the achievements of the Tinubu administration and to counter what he described as false narratives about Nigeria.

“Nobody can underestimate our power in grassroots mobilisation. We have sustained this for eight years, and we are still standing,” he said.

Mr Adediran reaffirmed his intention to contest the Lagos governorship seat in 2027 but said he would support whoever emerges as the party candidate.

“This structure is for one purpose — to ensure victory for APC in 2027, irrespective of who is on the ballot, and to deliver for President Bola Tinubu. The only ticket already settled is that of the president; there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027, but for the governorship, we still have to contest for the ticket,” he said.

He said Mr Tinubu’s policies were yielding results, citing local fuel production by the Dangote Refinery and falling food prices.

Mr Adediran also condemned attempts to paint Nigeria in a bad light abroad, saying Mr Tinubu’s government was committed to ending insecurity and religious intolerance.

He urged the new security chiefs to perform effectively or face replacement, adding that Nigeria remained a sovereign country capable of addressing its challenges.

The APC chieftain commended the Lagos State government for its urban renewal projects, but called for adequate compensation for affected property owners.

He urged non-indigenous residents, particularly the Igbo community, to continue to see Lagos as home, saying the government is father to all, irrespective of tribe or religion.

Mr Adediran noted that many non-Yoruba people held key appointments in the state.

In his goodwill message, state APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, represented by the party’s Youth Leader, Seriki Murtala, lauded Mr Adediran’s grassroots mobilisation efforts.

Mr Ojelabi urged the coordinators to prioritise voter registration and collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) ahead of 2027, saying the party’s target was three million votes in Lagos.

He stated, “Let us not only profess love for APC, Jandor and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; let us go out and mobilise voters, especially youths and women.’’

Also speaking, a former PDP deputy governorship Candidate in the state, Safurat Abdulkareem, commended Mr Adediran’s inclusive approach, urging members to work together for the progress of the party.

“It is time to work; we are not going to work only for President Bola Tinubu, we will also work for Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran,” Abdulkareem, the deputy Apex Leader of LagosLagos Movement, said.

Jonathan Nnaji, who spoke on behalf of non-Yoruba members, said Mr Adediran’s inclusive leadership style had given confidence to all ethnic groups in the state, saying, “Non-Yoruba-speaking people in Lagos State are comfortable with Adediran.”

Also speaking, an apex leader of the group, Ola Apena, said, “There is no doubt that the gathering is the beginning of a fruitful journey that will take us to the promised land in 2027.”

Mr Apena urged the mobilisers to be dedicated and committed to the task ahead, saying, “It is not a jamboree, but a call to serve. I want to enjoin you to work together to actualise the dream.” 

(NAN)