Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, a political coalition comprising members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and other political parties has commenced grassroots mobilisation for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Owo and Ose Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
The group, known as the Rainbow Coalition for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, held its inaugural mobilisation programme at Mobil Junction, Owo, on Friday.
The coalition comprises representatives and supporters across the 23 wards in Owo and Ose, with its members drawn from different political parties.
The event was convened by a former representative of the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Alaba Lad-Ojomo, who said the initiative was designed to take Tinubu's campaign beyond the structure of the ruling party and into households and communities.
Speaking at the gathering, a PDP representative from Ose, Joel Olorunsusi, said members of the opposition party were prepared to work for Tinubu's victory despite their party affiliation.
“We are here to say that we are going to stand for the President. We are PDP members, but we are not going to disappoint the President. We are going to stand for his victory and his mandate,” Olorunsusi said.
Another speaker, Baba Saporu, described the gathering as historic, saying it was unusual for members of different political parties to come together under one platform to discuss how to secure victory for a presidential candidate.
He commended Lad-Ojomo for convening the programme, saying, “This kind of programme has never come up before, where all the political parties sit under the same canopy to discuss the 2027 election and how to mobilise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This is community-based politics. We have all come together to mobilise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Also speaking, Dr Niran Okunrinboye declared that Tinubu's victory was already assured, expressing confidence that the President would secure another term in office.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do 4+4,” he said.
‘I’m PDP, but I’ll vote Tinubu’
In one of the strongest declarations at the event, Surveyor Ogunniyi, who identified himself as a PDP member, said he would vote for Tinubu in 2027 based on what he described as the President's performance.
He said his decision was not influenced by Tinubu's Yoruba background.
“It is not because the President is from Yoruba land but because of what he is doing and what he will do. He has been doing wonderfully. He has introduced many programmes and developmental initiatives for our country.
“I am a PDP man, but I am going to vote for APC,” Ogunniyi declared.
Similarly, Princess Roslyn Alale described Lad-Ojomo as a leader who had retained the loyalty of the people years after leaving public office.
She appealed to voters in Owo and Ose to deliver massive votes for Tinubu in 2027.
“Hon. Lad is a leader who people can be loyal to. I am appealing to our people to vote massively for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I want our votes from Owo and Ose to be the highest,” she said.
Mrs Adebisi Iyabo, JP, urged the people of the South-West to come out en masse during the election, citing infrastructural development in the region as part of the reasons for supporting the President.
“This is Yoruba votes. Let us all come out massively during the election. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing wonderfully. We can see the dualisation of roads in the South-West,” she stated.
A university don, Prof. Fatukasi, also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as one of the Federal Government's initiatives, saying the programme had given Nigerian students access to interest-free loans to support their higher education.
‘APC alone cannot deliver the full result’ — Lad-Ojomo
In his remarks, the convener, Hon. Alaba Lad-Ojomo, thanked political leaders, supporters and members of the coalition for attending the programme.
Lad-Ojomo, who noted that he had left public office for about 15 years, expressed appreciation that the people had continued to remember him and maintain their loyalty.
Explaining the reason behind the formation of the coalition, the former federal lawmaker said the group was established because of the need to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines.
He said there were supporters of the President in virtually every household and that limiting the mobilisation to APC members alone would not produce the desired result.
“There are votes in every household. If we leave door-to-door campaign for only APC members, they cannot do it alone and we will not have the full result as we want it.
“Although APC in Owo will deliver for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it will not be like when we pull all the parties together to work for him,” he said.
Lad-Ojomo, speaking in his characteristic political style, also used the phrase “Ọmagwa, Ọmajọmọ Luda” while addressing the gathering.
He said the coalition would focus on sensitising members of all political parties and mobilising them at the grassroots for Tinubu's re-election.
Lad-Ojomo further argued that the South-West should be allowed to complete eight years in the presidency, insisting that the region should not be denied the opportunity of completing its tenure.
“Other regions cannot be doing eight, eight years and then say Yoruba should do only four years. Yoruba eight years must complete,” he declared.
He maintained that Tinubu had not disappointed the Yoruba people and urged members of the coalition to begin aggressive grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
He said, “I appeal to everyone that we should campaign, canvass and work for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in the 2027 election.”
The former lawmaker also appealed to political leaders and stakeholders in Owo to resolve the internal crisis within the APC, saying unity within the ruling party would be important to achieving the desired electoral outcome.
“I pray that God should help us resolve the crisis within the APC in Owo Local Government. We really appreciate Owo leaders; they are working hard to resolve the crisis within the party,” he said.
The programme ended with renewed calls for political mobilisation across Owo and Ose, with the coalition declaring its intention to unite supporters across party lines in pursuit of Tinubu's re-election.
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