The wife of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Martina Yilwatda, has begun early mobilisation efforts ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking on Sunday in Abuja at an event organised by the Women’s Leadership Network, Yilwatda urged women within the ruling party to unite and begin grassroots sensitisation for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We need to start working on the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, and this can only be achieved through mobilisation,” she said.
“The government of our president has demonstrated a strong commitment to women’s inclusion in terms of appointments in agencies as well as empowerment.
“And so we should work towards preaching the message of his Renewed Hope Agenda. I believe we are prepared to do that. That’s why we have agreed to be here to talk to ourselves and interact.
“Finally, I urge us once again to preach the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. He has done a lot for women and Nigerians. So, I want you to support him in 2027,” Yilwatda added.
She also voiced support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly, saying the proposal should be passed into law to guarantee greater female representation in politics.
“All the things that you have said here can only be achieved when we work together and speak with one voice. Again, we need to change the narrative that women don’t like each other,” she noted, encouraging more women to contest elective offices and back one another.
Yilwatda further referenced the ongoing mobilisation effort within the APC.
“There is this project that the National Women Leader of APC is doing called ‘Project 774.’ I don’t know how many of you are aware of it. So if we work with that vision, we’ll surely achieve something in 2027,” she stated.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the Women’s Leadership Network, Dr. Fauziya Buhari-Ado, said the group was established to promote women’s political participation and leadership development nationwide.
She noted that despite being the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, women and youths remain underrepresented in governance and political decision-making.
“Our vision is not vague. We want an inclusive Nigeria where women and youths are equitably represented in decision-making,” Buhari-Ado said.
She also commended President Tinubu for giving women more opportunities in government “than at any other time in the Fourth Republic,” while emphasising that early mobilisation is crucial for electoral success.
“Elections are not won on election day — they are won through years of consistent mobilisation, sensitisation, communication and grassroots engagement,” she said.
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill before the National Assembly proposes the creation of 37 new Senate seats — one per state and the Federal Capital Territory — and another 37 in the House of Representatives, all exclusively for women.
In her opening remark, Deborah Oriaku, founder of the Women’s Leadership Network, praised President Tinubu for his efforts to uplift women, describing his cabinet as one of the most inclusive in Nigeria’s history.
“Many talk about women — but Mr. President has made decisions that directly uplift, strengthen and advance women. His cabinet is one of the most inclusive. His appointments have given women strategic power seats. His programmes have opened fresh doors for female entrepreneurs, small business owners, young professionals, and even rural women.
“Therefore, as 2027 approaches, this is not just gratitude — this is loyalty rooted in evidence. This is acknowledgment rooted in reality. And this is a continuation of solidarity rooted in impact,” Oriaku said.
She called on women to “remain steadfast, prayerful and united,” urging them to continue mobilising and organising in their communities and networks in support of the President’s vision.
