The PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027. In a statement released on October 2, 2026, to commemorate Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary, the group's chairman, Demola Ijabiyi, emphasized that Tinubu's economic reforms must be sustained to secure the country's prosperity. Ijabiyi noted that the reforms have laid the foundation for investment, local production, and employment.
Ijabiyi warned that reversing the reforms, as advocated by some of the President's opponents, would lead to deeper and more widespread poverty. He urged young Nigerians to focus on education, skills acquisition, technology, and entrepreneurship, highlighting their talent and energy as essential to building a greater Nigeria. The group's endorsement of Tinubu is seen as a significant boost to his re-election bid.
In a related development, the Olu of Agege Kingdom, Oba Kamila Oyedeji Isiba, and a prominent APC chieftain, Kayode Opeifa, have expressed their support for all APC candidates. They made the appeal during an Independence Day celebration organized by the Sule Shakiru Akindele Enimakure Campaign Organisation in Agege/Orile Agege, Lagos. The event drew a large crowd of party faithful who gathered to commemorate the anniversary and reaffirm their commitment to the party.
Oba Isiba stressed the importance of unity among party supporters and urged residents of Agege and its environs to work collectively to deliver overwhelming votes for the party at all levels. He emphasized that a united front was crucial for the party's success in the forthcoming elections. Opeifa, in his address, called on party members to engage in door-to-door campaigns and community outreach to galvanize support for APC candidates.
Opeifa emphasized that the forthcoming elections would require coordinated efforts to secure victory for President Tinubu and other party flag bearers. He urged party members to intensify grassroots mobilization efforts to ensure a resounding victory for the party. The event provided a platform for party members to interact and strategize on how to achieve their goals.
Shakiru Sule Akindele Enimakure, the convener of the programme and a House of Assembly candidate for Agege Constituency II, described the gathering as a strategic platform to unite party members and strengthen mobilization efforts at the grassroots. He expressed confidence that the party would achieve its objectives with the support of its members and the larger community.
The endorsement of President Tinubu by the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum and the support of traditional rulers and party chieftains are seen as significant boosts to his re-election bid. The APC is expected to face stiff competition in the forthcoming elections, but with the support of its members and key stakeholders, the party is confident of securing victory.
Key points
- The PBAT Mandate Elders Forum has endorsed President Tinubu for re-election in 2027, citing his economic reforms as a key factor.
- Traditional rulers and party chieftains have thrown their weight behind APC candidates, urging party members to intensify grassroots mobilization efforts.
- The APC is gearing up for a competitive election, with party members and stakeholders working together to secure victory for President Tinubu and other party flag bearers.
