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Politics
September 10, 2025 by Our Reporter
Allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have admitted that complacency and poor grassroots engagement nearly cost the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in the 2023 presidential election, vowing not to repeat the same mistakes as they begin early sensitisation for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Speaking at a strategy seminar organised by the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu (GMT) in Lagos, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, said the ruling party had been “too confident” in 2023, resulting in unexpected losses even in traditional strongholds like Lagos State.
“The 2023 election taught us that sentiment alone cannot win elections. Organisation, grassroots connection, youth engagement, sharper messaging, and party unity are key to securing victory in 2027,” Ayinde told over 150 GMT directors drawn from Delta, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Adamawa and Kogi.
Ayinde, who delivered the keynote address, explained that while Tinubu eventually triumphed in 2023, the results revealed weaknesses the APC could not ignore. He listed voter apathy, youth discontent, misinformation, and internal divisions as factors that weakened the party’s performance.
“We cannot take any vote for granted, not even in our backyard,” he cautioned.
“In 2027, we must be more organised, more connected, more persuasive, and friendlier to voters. Every challenge is also an opportunity, we must reconnect with the grassroots, especially the youths, artisans, students and the digital community.”
He urged GMT directors to serve as “storytellers” who clearly explain Tinubu’s policies and achievements, noting that disconnection from ordinary Nigerians was one of the pitfalls of the last campaign. Victory is calling us once again, in 2023 we made history, in 2027, we must consolidate and expand that victory. Let us go back to our wards, markets, churches, mosques, campuses, communities, friends, families, offices and place of business. Let us pick one message, Tinubu has done it before, he is doing it again and with your support, he with complete the job.”
Ayinde also emphasised to GMT leaders that the seminar was not an early campaign launch but part of a broader voter sensitisation and engagement effort.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, represented by Mr. Bode Obanla, pledged his support for GMT, describing the group as one of the most disciplined grassroots structures working for Tinubu’s second term.
“I’m committed to ensuring that President Tinubu secures more than 80 percent of votes in Ondo State. Partisans cannot be left idle. They must be constructively engaged or they will drift to other parties. GMT is one of the groups that has earned my trust because of how organised you are.”
Director General of GMT, Hon. Adebisi Yusuf, said the movement was created to build a stronger bridge between Tinubu’s administration and the grassroots.
“GMT is not just another political group. We are the engine room of mobilisation, the link between leadership and the people, and the vanguard of renewed hope at the grassroots,” Yusuf said in his welcome address.
On the sidelines, he explained that GMT’s structure, spread across multiple states, was designed to avoid the mistakes of 2023 by focusing on real voters, particularly those at the local government and ward levels.
“What happened in 2023 taught us a lesson. That is why we went back to the drawing board. GMT is different from political jamborees. We go house-to-house, to the real voters, encouraging even those without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to register,” Yusuf said.
The seminar, which brought together 150 directors from across the federation, was tagged “training the trainers.” Participants were tasked with returning to their states and local governments to replicate the training, engage directly with communities, and counter misinformation about Tinubu’s policies.
“The real voters are the common people, and their votes count,” Yusuf stressed. “Our duty is to explain Tinubu’s achievements in language they understand and to show them why short-term sacrifice will lead to long-term gains.”
“The heartbeat of democracy lies in the grassroots. With organised action and collective commitment, no goal is beyond our reach. Together, we will transform ideas into action and action into victory,” Yusuf concluded.
GMT departments cover diverse sectors, including female lawyers, artisans, voters’ education, digital engagement, women affairs, foreign affairs, welfare, finance and budget, and education.
According to Deputy Chairman of GMT, Dr Kolawole Peregrine these specialised groups ensure that every critical constituency is reached ahead of 2027.
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The Director of Women Affairs of GMT and immediate past Executive Chairman of Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Princess Rasheedat Abiodun, said mobilisation efforts had already begun with a focus on voter registration and women’s participation.
“We have started already, and election begins with voter registration which is ongoing. We are engaging and educating women on why they must participate in voting — and voting for the right man, Tinubu, who we are sure will do the job. As women, we need to push ourselves and make our mark in political decision-making,” she said.
In his contribution, the Ogun State leader of GMT, Tola Banjo, said the seminar provided fresh insight into Tinubu’s legacy and current policies, which participants would now take back to their communities.
“My take-home from this seminar is that we have been equipped with more knowledge about how to sell Mr President. We knew some of what he has done, but the keynote address reminded us of his foundation work in Lagos, including the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). Those structures are still paying off today — for example, the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA just built the biggest Primary Healthcare Centre in Nigeria, but the foundation was laid by Tinubu,” Banjo said.
He added that in Ogun State, GMT’s strategy is to combine awareness creation with feedback from communities. “We want people to know what they stand to benefit, to hear from them what we are doing right and what more they want. This movement is about creating awareness and letting people know how they can key in,” Banjo said.
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