GUSAU, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen party unity, improve cooperation and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the ruling party prepares for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The First Lady made the appeal on Friday, November 13, 2026, while addressing the APC North-West Women’s Stakeholders’ Mobilisation and Mega Rally in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
In a statement issued by her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs Tinubu urged party members, particularly women, to work collectively towards consolidating the party’s political structures and securing support for its candidates in the forthcoming elections.
She encouraged Nigerians, especially women across the country, to use their votes to protect and consolidate what she described as the gains recorded under the Tinubu administration.
The First Lady stressed that the party needed a united front, stronger cooperation among its members and sustained engagement with voters if it hoped to achieve its electoral objectives in 2027.
Her message also focused on the importance of women in political organisation and grassroots mobilisation. She urged female supporters to remain actively involved in the political process and take the party’s message into their communities.
The Gusau gathering brought together women leaders, political office holders, APC stakeholders and supporters from the seven states in the North-West geopolitical zone. It was organised as part of the party’s efforts to expand its grassroots mobilisation ahead of the next general elections.
The Wife of the Vice President, Nana Kashim Shettima, also addressed the gathering, encouraging women and other residents of Zamfara and neighbouring states to support President Tinubu and APC candidates.
She highlighted the influence of women in political participation and electoral mobilisation, urging them to take the message of party unity and collective engagement to their respective communities.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal welcomed the First Lady and other dignitaries to the state. He described the gathering as an opportunity to strengthen political engagement and consolidate the party’s structures across the North-West.
Other political leaders also emphasised the need for cooperation among party members. The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, called on APC supporters to close ranks, strengthen their grassroots structures and work towards the party’s objectives.
The Director-General of the Presidential Campaign, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, similarly urged party stakeholders to intensify mobilisation, noting that effective coordination and widespread participation would be important to the party’s campaign efforts.
The rally also featured an empowerment programme for women. More than 2,000 beneficiaries reportedly received items including grinding machines, deep freezers, kiosks and hair dryers to support small businesses and livelihood activities.
The intervention formed part of the event’s wider focus on women’s participation, economic empowerment and political mobilisation.
The First Lady’s appeal comes as the APC and other political stakeholders increasingly position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections. The ruling party has already begun organising its campaign structures, with President Tinubu inaugurating the APC Presidential Campaign Council in October.
The president charged members of the council to demonstrate unity, discipline and commitment as they prepare for the electoral contest. Party leaders have also called for stronger engagement from state chapters, local government structures and ward-level organisations.
However, the First Lady’s latest message places particular emphasis on resolving internal differences and ensuring that party members work together rather than allowing disagreements to weaken the organisation.
As political activities gather momentum, the APC faces the task of maintaining cohesion across its different interests and regional structures while presenting its administration’s record and policy agenda to voters.
The Gusau rally therefore served both as a women-focused empowerment gathering and an early mobilisation platform for the ruling party as it prepares to seek another presidential mandate in 2027.
