Women under the Forum of 2027 APC Female Aspirants and Candidates Network and Traditional and Religious Women Leaders Network have unveiled the ‘Project 4+4 for Tinubu/Shettima 2027’.

The initiative was unveiled at the Maryam Babangida National Women Development Centre on Thursday in Abuja. It aims to mobilise women across the country to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 general elections.

The director-general of Tinubu Support Group, Umar Yakassai, said the group was committed to transforming TSG into a pan-Nigerian campaign platform capable of driving Mr Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He said TSG was ready to collaborate with other pro-Tinubu campaign groups, stressing that unity of purpose would be critical to achieving their shared objectives.

He said the administration had recorded improvements in foreign reserves, state allocations and GDP, while also clearing some foreign obligations.

“Our GDP was not growing fast, and Nigeria was having a very low foreign reserve, and many of our states were unable to pay their salaries. Today, our foreign reserve has grown from $3.89 billion to over $50 billion; we have money going to the states, and state allocation has gone almost three times, and states are even paying salaries,” he said.

He said the administration had also introduced interventions in education, including student loans, and strengthened local government administration.

“In the area of education, many parents that could not send their children to school now enjoy NELFUND. Students go to school; the numbers have gone almost to a million. Local government has autonomy. Even though it is yet to take effect, it is ensuring that money goes to the grassroots,” he said.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to support Mr Tinubu for a second term to enable him to consolidate the gains of his reforms and implement the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The national convener of FAFAN, Nikky Oyenri, said women are fully prepared and mobilised for the 2027 elections. She said members of the two networks came from the 36 states, FCT and the diaspora, including the United States and the United Kingdom, to endorse the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

“We came here, FAFAN members, and the traditional and religious women leaders, came together to unveil Project 4 Plus 4 for Tinubu/Shettima 2027. What we are saying is that we did full endorsement of the president, who is the 2027 APC presidential candidate,” she said.

She added that the network would commence a nationwide donation and support drive to sustain the project.

Hadiza Ujah, who contested for the House of Representatives, described the project as a good initiative and called for greater participation of women in politics.

“We are here actually to support our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Vice President Kashim Shettima; we wish the next campaign to be in their favour. This Project 4+4 is a very good project, and we wish more of these projects.

“We wish the voice of women to be heard, because if you look at it, there are fewer women in politics. We are praying that more women should come out; they should come out en masse and support our president,” she said.

Ms Ujah also appealed to the president and first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to promote greater gender inclusion in politics.

“I am appealing to our president and our first lady, Remi Tinubu, so that we can embark on the 35 per cent affirmative action that we have been appealing for. We are saying that they should look into that so that women can be put into consideration in politics because no women, no nation,” she said.

Aminah Ibrahim, national welfare officer, said Mr Tinubu deserves a second term to ensure continuity of his programmes and policies.

“There are too many reasons why Mr President deserves a second term. For continuity, Mr President has already established a lot of laudable programmes, and they need to be completed,” she said.

(NAN)