2027: No vacancy in Aso Rock, APC women leader tells opposition

National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Mary Alile, on Wednesday declared that there is “no vacancy” in the Presidential Villa, saying Nigerian women are fully mobilised to secure the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Alile, who spoke in Akure at the APC’s Sensitisation and Empowerment Programme on Gender Equality and Adequate Representation in Governance, tagged Project 774 Explode Initiative, said the APC was committed to sustaining President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, insisting that “4+4 must be eight.”

“There is no vacancy at the Villa. The women of this country are ready to vote, and if we are not voting, nobody is winning. We are ready to vote Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027,” she said.

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The APC women leader expressed confidence that women would deliver over 67 per cent of the votes for the President, adding that reforms such as the student loan scheme justified the need for continuity.

The state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described gender equality as “a moral obligation, a democratic necessity and an economic imperative,” stressing that women remained central to his administration’s OUR EASE agenda through appointments, entrepreneurship support and social protection programmes.

He called for greater inclusion of women in elective and leadership positions, saying, “we must move beyond advocacy to practical commitments” to ensure women play greater roles in governance.

Earlier, the Wife of the Ondo Governor, Mrs. Esther Aiyedatiwa, said the programme was aimed at promoting gender equality and preparing more women for active participation in governance and leadership.

She noted that although progress had been made, social, cultural and economic barriers still hinder women’s access to leadership positions, stressing that the initiative would equip participants with leadership, advocacy, public speaking and campaign skills while strengthening support networks for women across the state.

She said the programme was designed to equip women with leadership, advocacy and campaign skills while encouraging greater participation in governance.

Mrs. Aiyedatiwa urged women to embrace leadership opportunities and make productive use of the empowerment items distributed during the programme to improve their livelihoods.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Seun Osamaye, said women in the state had continued to benefit from the administration’s empowerment programmes, grants and skills acquisition initiatives.

According to her, the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme were drawn not only from the APC but also from grassroots entrepreneurs across the state.

She said Aiyedatiwa had consistently demonstrated commitment to improving the welfare of women through practical interventions rather than mere promises.

“Our women are happy because of the developmental strides and human capacity development being driven by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“Many women have benefited from grants, empowerment programmes and skills development initiatives that are making them self-reliant,” Osamaye said.