By Julius Peter, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified its women mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections, as various women support groups within the party moved to collapse their structures into a more coordinated political mobilisation platform.
The development was announced at the Women Stakeholders’ Mobilisation and Empowerment Pre-Inaugural Summit held on Monday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Speaking at the gathering, Dr Maryam Shettima, popularly known as Shatty, expressed optimism that the emerging women mobilisation structure would significantly strengthen the APC’s campaign ahead of the 2027 elections, declaring that with the movement, “2027 is done and dusted.”
The summit, convened by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu under the Women Mobilisation Directorate of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council, attracted APC women leaders, political stakeholders, grassroots mobilisers, professionals, entrepreneurs, community representatives and members of various support groups from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The event was held under the theme, “Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0: From Reforms to Prosperity,” with the mobilisation message, “One Voice, One Movement, One Choice, One Mandate 2027.”
The summit focused on strengthening women’s political participation, grassroots mobilisation, empowerment and coordination as the APC prepares for the 2027 elections.
Shatty described the coming together of the various women mobilisation structures as a major development in the party’s preparations for the elections, saying the new arrangement would provide a broader platform for women and support groups to work together towards a common political objective.
She called on women, political stakeholders and support groups that were yet to identify with the initiative to join the movement, stressing that building an effective political structure required collective participation.
“Gentlemen and women, come on board. We all need you. Don’t be scared. This job is for everybody,” she said.
According to her, the summit provided an opportunity to bring together several campaign and support groups that had previously operated independently under different platforms.
She said the decision to bring the groups together would create a stronger and more coordinated structure capable of expanding the party’s reach at the grassroots.
Shatty particularly highlighted the strategic importance of women in political mobilisation, noting that women have extensive networks and influence within families, communities and social organisations.
She urged women not to underestimate their capacity to influence political and social developments, arguing that empowering women would produce positive effects across society.
“Is it the best way of going for 2027? It is the best way because you don’t know the power of a woman. A woman, when you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” she said.
She added that women possessed the potential, determination and grassroots reach required to influence political outcomes when adequately supported and given opportunities to participate.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who also addressed the gathering, disclosed that previously separate women support groups had been brought together under a unified structure of the APC Presidential Women Campaign Council.
She specifically mentioned groups such as Tinubu Again and Torch Bearers, saying they would now operate within the broader women mobilisation framework.
According to her, the new arrangement was designed to strengthen coordination and ensure that women mobilisation efforts were directed towards a common objective ahead of the 2027 elections.
She said the structure would coordinate mobilisation efforts in support of APC candidates across the different levels of the electoral contest, including the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections.
The First Lady urged APC women to return to their respective communities and intensify grassroots mobilisation, stressing the need for unity and cooperation among the various support groups.
She called on the women to work together as a united political force to advance the objectives of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The emphasis on grassroots mobilisation underscores the importance of women in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly their extensive networks within communities, religious organisations, professional associations, market groups, civil society organisations and other social structures.
The Abuja summit also provided an opportunity for participants to deliberate on women empowerment, political participation and the impact of government programmes on women, youths and other segments of the population.
Participants were drawn from diverse backgrounds, including women political leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, grassroots organisers, political actors and community representatives.
The organisers said the initiative was aimed at strengthening not only the numerical presence of women in political mobilisation but also creating a more organised and effective framework through which women could participate meaningfully in the political process.
The consolidation of the various support groups is also expected to minimise duplication of efforts, improve coordination and expand the APC’s grassroots outreach ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development comes as political parties and support groups across the country intensify their mobilisation activities ahead of the general elections, with women expected to constitute a major component of grassroots campaign and voter mobilisation strategies.
For Shatty, women should no longer remain on the sidelines of the political process but must take an active role in organising, mobilising and shaping the political direction of their communities.
She therefore urged more women and political support groups to join the emerging mobilisation structure, stressing that collective participation remained critical to building a stronger and broader political movement.
The summit is expected to be followed by further mobilisation and empowerment activities as the APC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the party’s women mobilisation structure expected to play a central role in grassroots engagement and campaign coordination.
