Ondo Labour Leaders Back Tinubu for 2027 Elections

Labour leaders in Ondo State have thrown their weight behind President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027. They promised to rally workers across the state to support his second-term bid.

This endorsement came from members of the Labour for Good Governance in Ondo State at an event arranged by the Asiwaju Mandate Group in Akure, the state capital, on Friday.

In a statement from the group, the labour leaders, led by the group’s President and former Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Prince Solomon Adelegan, along with NLC leader Bosede Daramola, said Tinubu's policies on worker welfare, infrastructure, and fuel subsidy removal influenced their choice.

They also presented Tinubu with an award for good leadership and recognized the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his contributions to the administration.

The group pledged to rally support for the President throughout the 18 local government areas in Ondo State as the 2027 elections approach.

At the event, Adelegan described Tinubu's government as the most worker-friendly in recent times. Adelegan, who has also served as the president of the Amalgamated Union, mentioned that Ondo State now has three ministers in the Federal Executive Council, calling it an unprecedented achievement.

He highlighted Tunji-Ojo's innovative reforms at the Ministry of Interior. Adelegan noted that these changes have reduced the long waiting times for passport applications.

"Within a week or two weeks, your passport will be ready, unlike in the past, which took months or even years," Adelegan said.

He also praised the Federal Government for the ongoing infrastructure and road projects across the country. He said, "The President and his cabinet have been able to bring it down to the lowest minimum. When we also look at the ongoing infrastructure and road construction, no government in Nigeria has done well as President Tinubu."

Adelegan believes these projects are especially important in the South-West and expressed confidence that Ondo State will reward Tinubu with strong support in 2027.

Daramola also spoke, saying the administration's economic policies have opened doors for more Nigerians to take part in the economy. She specifically supported the removal of fuel subsidy, claiming it has given state governments more money to meet their financial needs.

"State governors have enough to pay salaries. Any state governor that cannot pay salaries now should be held responsible by the labour in that state because they have enough money to pay their gratuities," she said.

Daramola also commended the government's approach to security and infrastructure, saying these factors played a role in the labour leaders' decision to back Tinubu's re-election.

Olumuyiwa Asagunla, the Director-General of the Asiwaju Mandate Group, mentioned that the endorsement was voluntary and not funded by anyone.

"These people have been coming willingly. That is just the joy of it because they have seen the good work of Asiwaju himself and appreciate what he’s doing at the federal level," he said.

However, Asagunla shared that Tunji-Ojo had funded several endorsement activities with different groups, including those representing persons with disabilities. He also mentioned that Ondo State has about two million registered voters, but typically only 400,000 to 500,000 participate in elections.

Asagunla said the group is working to boost voter participation through education. "We have been going out to tell people that it is their right to elect anybody or to get anybody that is not performing well out of office. It’s their right to re-elect or elect somebody that is doing well," he added.