BADAGRY/Nigeria: The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Badagry has set an ambitious electoral target ahead of the 2027 general elections, challenging its members to triple the votes recorded in the area in 2023 as the party formally inaugurated its Badagry Federation Campaign Structure.
The inauguration, held on Thursday at Sunny Ajose Estate, Badagry, brought together party leaders, elected officials, political stakeholders and grassroots mobilisers, who pledged to strengthen the party’s structures and secure victory for its candidates across the various elective positions in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at the event, APC Vice Director-General, West 2 Campaign Council, Mr Fatai Ayoola, described Badagry as one of the party’s best-performing local government areas in Lagos State during the 2023 general elections.
He attributed the emergence of one of Badagry’s political daughters, Mrs Damilola Sonayon-James, as the party’s deputy governorship candidate to the area’s contributions to the APC’s electoral fortunes.
Ayoola challenged party members to build on that record by increasing their mobilisation efforts and ensuring a stronger electoral performance in 2027.
“Therefore, I charge you all to come out en masse, both old and young, on the day of the elections and multiply our last election result by three.
“Let us maintain our position as the best-performing LGA in Lagos State again, and who knows, maybe the next governorship candidate may emerge from our federation,” he said.
He also cited an estimated 300,000 registered voters in Badagry, expressing confidence that the federation could deliver a significant electoral advantage for the party if its members effectively mobilised the electorate.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the inauguration of the campaign structure was a strategic step towards ensuring that the party’s mobilisation activities reached every community within the Badagry federation.
He explained that an effective grassroots campaign network would provide the coordination required to engage voters and secure support for APC candidates at the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly levels.
“Our campaign structure will ensure that we are on the same page, hitting the ground running to ensure that all our elected officers win their elections in 2027,” Ogunlende said.
He maintained that the party’s objective was to support its candidates to secure electoral mandates and deliver on their responsibilities to the people.
The commissioner urged members to work collectively, describing continuity in government and the sustenance of democratic dividends as central messages of the party’s campaign.
According to him, electoral success would require a united front, sustained engagement and the active participation of party members across the federation.
Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, assured the party leadership that the federation was prepared for the forthcoming elections, expressing confidence in its ability to deliver a stronger result than it recorded in 2023.
Hunpe said the emergence of Damilola Sonayon-James as the APC deputy governorship candidate had further motivated party members to demonstrate their appreciation through electoral support.
He pledged that the party would mobilise voters to support all its candidates, adding that victory should translate into improved infrastructure, human capital development and stronger economic opportunities for residents.
Also speaking, Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Mr Ajose Kumayon, appreciated the leadership of the party and the Lagos State Government for providing Badagry with an opportunity to produce the deputy governorship candidate.
He urged residents and party faithful to demonstrate their support through the ballot, expressing optimism that electoral victory would strengthen the prospects of infrastructure development, human capacity building and economic growth across the area.
Kumayon said the party expected elected officials to sustain development initiatives capable of improving living standards and expanding economic activities within Badagry.
Chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Mr Rauf Yemaren, also expressed confidence in the party’s chances, attributing his optimism to what he described as unity and a common political direction among leaders and members of the federation.
He said the party was prepared to mobilise voters for a peaceful and well-coordinated election, noting that the political leadership and residents shared common development aspirations.
“We are united, and that is why I say that victory has already been achieved because we are going to come out in large numbers on election day to vote in our party candidates,” Yemaren said.
He identified continuity in government, infrastructure, human capacity development and economic advancement as some of the expectations of residents, urging party members to sustain their collective commitment towards achieving those objectives.
The inauguration of the Badagry Federation Campaign Structure marks another phase in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, with the party seeking to consolidate its political influence through stronger grassroots organisation and coordinated mobilisation.
However, beyond the assurances of party leaders, the challenge will be translating the campaign structure into effective voter engagement and converting political support into actual votes when the electorate goes to the polls.
