Lawmaker mobilizes community backing for Tinubu's second term bid in Ibadan come 2027

Akin Alabi, a member of the House of Representatives, kicked off a grassroots campaign on Saturday to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027, unveiling a volunteer network in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

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This initiative, dubbed "Friends of Akin Alabi for President Tinubu", was formally launched by Alabi, who represents Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency and chairs the House Committee on Works, drawing in thousands of volunteers ahead of the next election cycle.

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The launch was announced in a statement to journalists in Abuja by Alabi's media team, as the country witnesses growing political realignments and quiet mobilisation across party lines following the 2023 general elections.

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Key actors within the ruling All Progressives Congress are seeking to consolidate support for the Tinubu administration's second-term bid, with Alabi's initiative being a notable example of this effort.

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No fewer than 1,340 volunteers were mobilised in the first phase of the initiative, with over 2,000 already registered, and a projection to scale up to 20,000 across communities within and beyond the constituency.

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Addressing supporters at the Ibadan event, Alabi emphasised the importance of building a strong campaign structure, saying his goal is to create a working network rooted in wards and communities, rather than a ceremonial one.

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Alabi urged the volunteers to become active messengers, taking the message of the Tinubu administration's reforms and their potential to create a stronger economy to the grassroots, and to speak plainly to people about the direction of the country.

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The lawmaker's remarks reflected a long-term strategy focused on early voter engagement and decentralised campaign structures, a model that is increasingly being adopted in Nigeria's evolving electoral landscape.

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Tosin Oluwadara, the convener of the movement and a close associate of Alabi, framed the initiative as a people-driven platform, rather than a conventional campaign structure, stressing that real political strength lies at the grassroots.

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Oluwadara told the crowd that the platform is designed to be an inclusive network open to supporters regardless of political affiliation, with commitment to Alabi's leadership and belief in President Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda being the primary criteria for participation.

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The convener also urged volunteers to prioritise discipline and consistency, noting that electoral success would depend more on sustained grassroots engagement than periodic political activities.

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Community leaders and stakeholders from Egbeda and Ona-Ara Local Government Areas, who attended the launch, declared support for Tinubu's re-election, lending broader legitimacy to the initiative.

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With its first phase completed and expansion plans underway, the grassroots movement may signal a wider pattern of pre-election structuring within the National Assembly caucus of the ruling party, as loyalists move to consolidate support for the President well ahead of the official campaign season.