2027: Yilwatda’s wife begins mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election

The wife of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Martina Yilwatda, on Sunday, launched early mobilisation for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, urging women across the ruling party to “speak with one voice” ahead of the next general election.

Yilwatda, who addressed female politicians and APC women leaders at an event organised by the Women’s Leadership Network in Abuja, said women must begin grassroots sensitisation and promote the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We need to start working on the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, and this can only be achieved through mobilisation,” she said.

“The government of our President has demonstrated a strong commitment to women’s inclusion in terms of appointment in agencies as well as empowerment.

And so, we should work towards preaching the message of his Renewed Hope Agenda. I believe we are prepared to do that. That’s why we have agreed to be here to interact.

“Finally, I urge us once again to preach the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. He has done a lot for women and Nigerians. So, I want you to support him in 2027.”

The APC chairman’s wife also threw her weight behind the Reserved Seats for Women Bill before the National Assembly, saying it is high time it is passed into law.

All the things that you have said here can only be achieved when we work together and speak with one voice. Again, we need to change the narrative that women don’t like each other,” she added, encouraging more women to contest elective offices and back one another.

She also referenced an ongoing mobilisation initiative within the ruling party.

There is this project that the National Women Leader of APC is doing called ‘Project 774.’ I don’t know how many of you are aware of it. So if we work with that vision, we’ll surely achieve something in 2027.”

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the Women’s Leadership Network, Dr Fauziya Buhari-Ado, said the group was set up to deepen women’s political participation and leadership development across the country.

She argued that though women and youths constitute the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, they remain underrepresented in political and governance spaces.

“Our vision is not vague. We want an inclusive Nigeria where women and youths are equitably represented in decision-making,” she said.

Buhari-Ado also praised Tinubu for opening more doors for women appointments “than at any other time in the Fourth Republic.”

She stressed that mobilisation for 2027 must begin early, saying, “Elections are not won on election day — they are won through years of consistent mobilisation, sensitisation, communication and grassroots engagement.”

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly seeks to create additional elective seats exclusively for women in both chambers of the National Assembly and state legislatures.

The bill specifically provides for 37 new Senate seats, one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory, and another 37 in the House of Representatives.