2027: 685 APC Council Chairmen Plan Mega Rally For Tinubu

The Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, the umbrella body of 685 local government councils chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC), has disclosed plans organise a mega rally in Abuja to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second-term in office.

The forum’s chairman and chairman Chanchaga local government council of Niger state, Dr Mustafa Jibril Alheri made the disclosure when he led other officials on a courtesy visit to the APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

Alheri said as leaders of the third tier of government who are closer to the people, they carry out nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign in support of President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

He said the achievements of the president in all sectors and bold steps to grant local government autonomy has endeared him and the party to to people at the grassroot.

Alheri appealed to the APC leadership to facilitate synergy between the forum and the Progressive Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state to deepen grassroots coordination ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We are the closest tier of government to the people. We understand the grassroots and possess first-hand intelligence about our communities. The success of the APC will be anchored on effective grassroots mobilisation and that is why we have come to declare our support for President Tinubu and his administration.

“So far, we have over 685 local government chairmen under the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum. We have 31 state governors so far. It tells you that the party is doing well and standing strong.

Nobody is being coerced. People are seeing what the government is doing, and that is why they are joining.

“What we anticipate is that at least over 70 per cent of the votes that will be casted will go to our party. It is in that light that we are bringing ourselves together to mobilise because we know that we are working very hard. We are not just lying down, sleeping, and saying that we are going to win the next election.

“We are connected to the grassroots. We need to translate the policies of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, down to the grassroots, and that’s what we are doing in collaboration with the leadership of the APC here in Abuja.

“God’s willing, we believe that it’s going to be a landslide victory because we are clear, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear on what he is doing. He doesn’t mince words. He wants to see local governments strengthened. He wants to stop the subsidy challenges that we have had over the years,”Alheri added.

In his response, Yilwatda said local government chairmen remain the party’s greatest political assets critical to electoral victory.

The APC chairman assured the forum that the party would work closely with it through the office of the National Secretary and facilitate collaboration with the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

“You are nearer to the people than anyone else. You understand your communities and know what the people need. You are the strongest pillars we have to win elections.

“If you hold a political office, you cannot say you are not a politician. If you are unwilling to mobilise people and win votes, then you should not accept political appointments,” he said.