Wada, Karimi, Baba Ali rally grassroots support for Tinubu’s re-election

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, operating under the Kogi Progressive Stakeholders Forum (KPSF), on Wednesday endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, pledging to double the state’s votes for his re-election in the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Reverton Hotel in Lokoja, where party leaders, lawmakers, elders and other key figures resolved to align fully with the ruling party at the centre.

The forum said its objective is to promote unity and cohesion within the party while addressing internal gaps.

Chairman of the forum and former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, said KPSF was established to unite and mobilise grassroots supporters of the APC towards the success of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He urged party members across the state to embrace peace, unity and internal cohesion, stressing that only a united APC could effectively support the president’s reform agenda and secure electoral victory.

Wada said inclusiveness remains a core principle of the forum, noting that all party members, regardless of status or political leaning, must be carried along in the collective effort to strengthen the party and deepen democratic participation.

Vice Chairman of the forum and member of the governing board of the North Central Commission, Alhaji Suleiman Baba Ali, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure overwhelming support from Kogi voters in 2027.

He said the president’s leadership had continued to inspire confidence nationwide, adding that ongoing reforms would ultimately reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and development.

Ali called on APC members and supporters across the 21 local government areas of the state to remain united and focused on consolidating the party’s gains, stressing that grassroots mobilisation remains critical to electoral success.

Also speaking, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, representing Kogi West, described the endorsement and the growing alignment of the state with the APC as a positive development.

He said President Tinubu deserved a second term to complete the economic and security reforms initiated by his administration, citing improvements in foreign exchange stability, security, access to student loans through NELFUND, infrastructure development and economic reforms that previous administrations avoided.

Karimi acknowledged existing grievances among some party members and assured that their concerns would be addressed.

“We know there are so many people in this state that are not happy and if we leave them like that, we will not win 2027 elections. We want Mr. President to win and win well.

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“We are not fighting anybody but we not pretenders. We are not liars. We are truthful. We are people that love Mr. President, we love Kogi and want to move the state forward”.

Also speaking, Former Director General, National Productivity Centre, Dr. Kashim Akor, said the forum has created an avenue for aggrieved members of the party to channel their grievances with expectation that it will be addressed. He urged party leaders to embrace reconciliation and sacrifice. 

A former local government chairman and lawmaker, Hon. Ganiyu Salawudeen (Erukutu), called on the reconciliation committee recently set up by President Tinubu to visit Kogi state.

He said current leadership of APC in the state is one sided and political appointments are also lopsided.

At the end of the meeting, stakeholders issued a communiqué in which they unanimously declared their total and unwavering support for President Tinubu as the APC’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. 

The communiqué rejected what it described as divisive politics, calling for unity of purpose among political leaders of the state.

The leaders urged the people of Kogi within and outside the state to embrace the APC as the most viable platform for advancing the state’s political and economic interests.

They further pledged to mobilise human, material and political resources to deliver bloc votes for Tinubu across the 21 LGA’s of the state come 2027. 

The motion endorsing President Tinubu for a second term was formally moved by Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, Chairman, Senate Services Committee and Senator Representing Kogi West and seconded by Dr Kashim Akor, Former DG, National Productivity Center who described the decision as courageous and strategic.

Other prominent figures at the meeting included a Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Abutu Yaro, Former House of Representatives Member Representing Lokoja /Kogi Hon Haruna Isah among several stakeholders and party elders from the state. 

The meeting concluded with a call for sustained unity, equity and fairness, voter mobilisation and strategic engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the forum declared that the state  had “spoken with one voice” in support of President Tinubu and the ruling party the APC.