President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Dr. Betta Edu and women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intensify grassroots mobilisation and engagement of women across Nigeria as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he highlighted the critical role of women in shaping the nation’s political landscape and electoral outcomes.
Describing women as the party’s strongest mobilising force, the President urged members of the APC Women’s Directorate, women leaders and campaign officials to leverage their influence within families, communities and social networks to boost support for the party.
“You women are the greatest mobilisers, and I assure you a sponsorship of the Women Reserve Seat Bill. Go and work for it, it will come to fruition to increase the number of women representation at both National Assembly and subnational level. I assure you that,” Tinubu said.
The President’s pledge to support the Women Reserve Seat Bill added a significant policy dimension to the campaign council’s inauguration, signalling his commitment to efforts aimed at increasing women’s representation in elected offices.
If passed, the proposed legislation is expected to create additional opportunities for women to participate in governance at both national and subnational levels, addressing longstanding concerns about their underrepresentation in political institutions.
Tinubu also commended APC women for their contributions to the party’s growth and electoral successes, stressing the need for sustained and coordinated mobilisation ahead of the next general election.
The directive places the APC Women Mobilisation Directorate, headed by Dr. Betta Edu, at the forefront of the party’s campaign strategy. The directorate is expected to strengthen political networks, expand grassroots structures and deepen voter engagement across the country.
As part of its campaign plans, the Women Mobilisation Directorate has set a target of securing 40 million votes from women for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket through a mobilisation framework covering 176,846 communities nationwide.
The strategy focuses on strengthening household engagement, grassroots outreach, ward-level organisation and polling-unit mobilisation across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu’s remarks also underscored the importance of women’s participation beyond elections, recognising their contributions to economic development, agriculture, education, entrepreneurship and community welfare.
Political observers say the President’s commitment to the Women Reserve Seat Bill could become a major point of engagement between the APC campaign team and women-focused advocacy groups seeking greater inclusion in governance.
The mobilisation effort is expected to complement the activities of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, whose empowerment programmes and engagements with women across the country have featured prominently in the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
At the recent Women’s Summit and Empowerment Programme held in Abuja, women stakeholders from across Nigeria participated in discussions aimed at strengthening political participation and economic empowerment, with beneficiaries receiving livelihood-support items, including motorcycles and farm trucks.
With the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, preparations for the 2027 elections have formally gathered momentum, placing women at the centre of the party’s grassroots mobilisation strategy.
Tinubu maintained that women remain critical to the APC’s electoral success, urging them to move beyond campaign appearances and sustain grassroots organisation, while reiterating his commitment to advancing legislation that would enhance female representation in Nigeria’s political system.
