Lagos APC Tells Candidates to Stay Put Until 2027 Elections

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has told all its candidates to stay in Nigeria until after the 2027 general elections.

The party’s state chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, shared this news at the launch of the APC’s Tinubu-Hamzat Campaign Council at the party secretariat in Ikeja.

The launch of this council is meant to manage the campaigns for President Bola Tinubu and the APC’s governorship candidate, Femi Hamzat, in Lagos State for the elections next year. This event marks the start of the party’s campaigns for the 2027 general elections.

Mr Ojelabi said candidates must stay involved with the campaign team and take part in the party’s activities leading up to the elections, The Nation reported.

“To our candidates, work with the campaign council and make sure you are available. After today’s launch, no candidate should travel outside Nigeria until after the general elections,” he said.

Mr Ojelabi also warned party members not to underestimate the opposition. He urged them to stay focused on the campaign and work together for the party’s goals.

He mentioned that the party would take its campaign to the grassroots level, using its network across senatorial districts, local government areas, wards, and polling units.

The chairman noted that the APC aims for 5 million votes in Lagos and would rely on strong grassroots efforts to meet this target.

He also asked party members to keep the campaign peaceful.

“Let our campaign be free of hatred, thuggery, and violence,” Mr Ojelabi said.

Mr Hamzat, who is the Lagos State deputy governor and APC’s governorship candidate, encouraged party members to focus their campaign on the achievements of APC-led governments rather than emotions.

“It is not about emotion. It is about data. It is about records. We must show our people what we have done, what we are doing, and what we plan to do,” Mr Hamzat said.

He pointed out improvements in taxation, infrastructure, agriculture, and security as areas where the party can shine in the campaign.

Mr Hamzat also supported President Tinubu’s administration, saying its policies have brought positive changes in the economy and other areas.

“We don’t want jesters as president, a man who does not know the difference between a loan and borrowing. It is not about emotion; it is about data and records,” he said.

He mentioned that Lagos is too important economically to be involved in what he called “trial and error.” He highlighted the state’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

“Thirty-three percent of Nigeria’s GDP comes from Lagos. Our state is too vital to be subjected to trial and error by those who struggle to understand Lagos’s geography and people,” Mr Hamzat said.

He also stated that the APC should aim for three to four million votes in Lagos based on the registered voters in the state.

Mr Hamzat defended President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying the president has started reforms that he believes are boosting the economy.

“The president has stabilized Nigeria’s economy for the first time. We have a £7.9 billion trade surplus with America. This will keep growing because of agriculture and urea. The Lekki Trade Zone is playing a part,” he said.

He also mentioned the renovation of airports, infrastructure projects, tax reforms, and the federal government’s actions against terrorism and kidnapping as signs of progress under this administration.

Mr Hamzat urged APC members to take the campaign to their neighborhoods and rally voters for the party’s candidates in the presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, and Lagos State House of Assembly elections.

Nationwide, the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on 16 January 2027, while the governorship and House of Assembly polls will happen on 6 February 2027.