By Nkechi Eze
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Dr Ajibola Basiru, has urged former presiding officers of State Houses of Assembly across the country to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and defend the gains of his administration’s economic reforms.
Basiru made the call at a programme organised by the Kaduna State Chapter of the Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, themed, “Kaduna 2026: United Voices of Experience, All Together for Tinubu 2027.”
He described the former legislative leaders as influential political stakeholders whose years of public service, electoral experience and grassroots connections could play a significant role in securing victory for Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 general elections.
The APC National Secretary urged them to deploy their political experience to educate Nigerians on the objectives of the administration’s economic policies, counter opposition narratives and strengthen public support for the government’s reform agenda.
He noted that Tinubu inherited severe fiscal challenges upon assuming office, necessitating difficult policy decisions, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the adoption of a more market-driven foreign exchange regime.
According to Basiru, although the reforms initially imposed economic difficulties on Nigerians, they had helped improve the financial capacity of state governments, enabling them to meet salary and pension obligations and increase investments in developmental projects.
He maintained that the improved fiscal position of many state governments was a significant development in Nigeria’s public finance management, urging political leaders to explain the long-term objectives of the reforms to citizens while acknowledging the challenges associated with their implementation.
Basiru also challenged opposition leaders who had previously occupied prominent positions in government to account for their records in office before presenting themselves as alternatives to the Tinubu administration.
He specifically criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, questioning the credibility of his economic proposals in view of his participation in previous administrations, including decisions surrounding the privatisation and sale of national assets.
The APC National Secretary further cautioned Nigerians against what he described as unrealistic promises and politically motivated narratives by opposition figures seeking electoral advantage ahead of the 2027 polls.
He urged the former presiding officers to intensify public enlightenment campaigns, engage communities across the country and encourage voters to assess political parties and candidates based on verifiable records, policy direction and governance performance.
Basiru stressed that achieving the APC’s re-election objective would require sustained grassroots mobilisation, strategic communication and unity among party stakeholders.
He reaffirmed the need for party members and political leaders to take the administration’s message to the grassroots, defend its reform policies and mobilise widespread support for Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027.
