The Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has rallied women across the state behind President Bola Tinubu’s second term ambition, the Lagos the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and other candidates of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The first lady declared that Lagos women were ready to participate actively in the electoral process and work for the party at the grassroots.
Sanwo-Olu’s wife led the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) to the APC campaign office in GRA, Ikeja, yesterday.
The meeting came as the Lagos chapter of the APC intensified preparations for the 2027 elections, with the party seeking to deepen its grassroots organisation and increase voter participation across the state.
The first lady, who was accompanied by members of COWLSO and the PBAT-KOH 2027 Lagos State Campaign Council, met Hamzat, the APC governorship candidate, and his running mate, Damilola Sonayon-James, as the party steps up preparations for the elections.
Sanwo-Olu urged the women to mobilise voters to their polling units, stressing that their participation would be critical to the party’s performance at the polls.
“We need to prove to our President that we are not just delivering one million votes, we are going to do more. Let us focus and ensure PBAT comes back to power.
“If we women want more seats, we need to work by voting and making sure that we deliver all polling units for our party.”
The First Lady said the election provided an opportunity to advance development and infrastructure in Lagos and across the country, expressing support for Tinubu and Hamzat.
Hamzat, in his remarks, urged APC supporters to ensure that their political support translated into actual participation on election day.
“We should go out to get people to vote because if we say we are standing on a mandate, we must be able to come out to vote and show that we are really standing on that mandate,” he said.
He called on supporters to involve their families, neighbours and associates in the electoral process.
The Deputy Governor also asked COWLSO members to communicate the programmes and achievements of APC-led administrations at the federal and state levels to residents in their communities.
He said the Lagos APC had reviewed its strategy following the 2023 elections, with greater emphasis now being placed on participation within local communities.
According to him, the party is targeting 50 per cent of registered voters, stressing that political continuity depends on voter turnout.
The governorship candidate also underscored the importance of political leadership and participation, saying: “For me, if you want to be the President of a country and you cannot lead a political system, then you cannot manage Nigeria.”
Sonayon-James urged women to support, guide and pray for Hamzat as the campaign gathers momentum.
She described the APC ticket as a bridge between generations, combining Hamzat’s public service experience with the aspirations of younger people.
“Together, we can mobilise and ensure that our President goes back a second time to finish the good work he started for our dear nation, and also have the opportunity to experience a man with the experience and capacity to transform Lagos and take Lagos forward,” she said.
Director-General of the PBAT-KOH 2027 Campaign Council, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, urged the women to pay particular attention to young voters, noting that those aged between 18 and 35 constitute a significant segment of the electorate.
He said women, because of their influence within families and communities, had an important role in reaching and engaging younger voters.
Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, commended COWLSO for identifying with the party and urged members to take the APC’s message to residents across the state.
“Let us go out to propagate the achievements of this particular administration, what the Governor of Lagos State has done in Lagos State, what our council chairman has done,” he said.
Former Lagos State University Vice-Chancellor and COWLSO member, Prof. Ibiyemi Bello, also pledged the support of Lagos women for APC candidates and urged members to engage residents in their homes, markets, workplaces and communities.