The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to intensify its grassroots campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the Women Stakeholders' Mobilisation and Empowerment Pre-Inaugural Campaign Roll-Out scheduled for Monday in Abuja. The event, themed "Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0: From Reforms to Prosperity," aims to attract over 20,000 women from across the country and will feature discussions on political participation, mobilisation, and government programs.
The APC's women mobilisation directorate has set a target of 40 million votes from women for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 election. The directorate's Director, Dr Betta Edu, disclosed this ahead of Monday's summit, saying the structure was also expanding grassroots mobilisation across the country. The gathering will bring together women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community representatives to discuss the party's programs and policies.
A member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Women Mobilisation Planning Committee, Gloria Akobundu, highlighted the impact of the Federal Government's programs on education, infrastructure, social protection, consumer credit, and youth empowerment. She cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has processed 1,659,853 applications and disbursed N372.62bn as of October 3. The fund provides interest-free loans to eligible students to access tertiary education.
Akobundu also mentioned the CREDICORP, a Federal Government development finance institution established to widen access to consumer financing. The institution aims to reach 50 per cent of working Nigerians by 2030, offering credit in areas such as personal needs, education, home improvement, and renewable energy. Additionally, she listed the administration's infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.
The administration's social protection programs were also highlighted, including cash-transfer interventions and initiatives such as NG-CARES, SOLID, and HOPE. According to the Presidency, expanded cash transfers have reached 15 million vulnerable households, while the newly launched programs aim to extend livelihood, humanitarian, healthcare, education, and governance support. The Federal Government has also announced plans for a $1bn Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme.
The mobilisation event is expected to serve as both an empowerment platform and an early campaign mobilisation exercise for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. Akobundu urged women in Imo State and across the South-East to strengthen their mobilisation structures and take the Renewed Hope message to communities and localities across the region. The event will set the tone for the APC's women-focused mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC's women-focused mobilisation comes as political parties and support groups increasingly organise around the 2027 presidential contest. The party's grassroots structure covers communities nationwide, and the women mobilisation directorate is confident of achieving its target of 40 million votes from women. The event in Abuja will bring together women stakeholders to discuss the party's programs and policies, with a focus on consolidating the administration's policies through a second term.
Key points
- The APC targets 40 million votes from women for President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima in the 2027 election.
