By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A group; the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) in Ogun State has stepped up grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, vowing to deliver one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ convergence in Akomoje, Abeokuta North local government area of the State, Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo, said membership of the organisation is strictly tied to possession of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), noting that all members are verified voters committed to active participation in the electoral process.

He commended the State Working Committee of the APC for adopting Adeola as the party’s consensus governorship candidate, describing the move as strategic and widely accepted.

“TSO is fully aligned with Yayi. We thank God that our job is already 50 per cent done with his emergence as the governorship candidate. He understands the dynamics of winning elections,” he said.

The group disclosed that it currently has over 50,000 registered members across the state, cutting across party lines, but united under a common objective.

Expressing concern over the low voter turnout recorded during the 2023 general elections, the TSO leader noted that only about 11 per cent of registered voters participated in Ogun State, attributing the development to voter apathy.

“This shows that voter apathy is still very high in the state. That is why we are focusing on aggressive grassroots mobilisation to change the narrative,” he stated.

He explained that the organisation has put in place a ward-based strategy to meet its target, noting that Ogun State’s 236 wards are expected to deliver at least 2,000 votes each.

“Our goal is clear; to mobilise and deliver not less than one million votes for our presidential and governorship candidates. Elections are not won on social media; they are won at the polling unit level by people on the ground,” he added.

He revealed that the group’s structure spans the 20 local government areas of the state down to polling units, with coordinators already inaugurated to drive mobilisation.

Tracing the origin of the movement to 2021, he said the group played a key role in advocating for Tinubu’s emergence as president and is now repositioning for the next electoral cycle.

“We are starting early, mobilising, organising and engaging the grassroots to ensure better outcomes in 2027. Our aim is to support the President’s re-election and also secure victory for our governorship candidate,” he said.

On internal party dynamics, he explained that his earlier neutrality was in deference to party leadership.

“As a council chairman, it would have been inappropriate to openly support any aspirant prematurely. I waited for direction from the governor and party leadership. That is the structure of the APC,” he noted.

He dismissed insinuations surrounding his stance, insisting that his actions were guided by party discipline.

“Now that we have a consensus candidate, we have commenced full mobilisation. We are united and committed to delivering victory at both the primaries and the general elections,” he said.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Youth to the Ogun State Governor, Olamide Lawal, said the gathering reflected the collective resolve of members across the state to support the APC and its candidates.

“Today, we have come together to declare our support for Senator Adeola and for the President. This is a collective decision of our members across Ogun State,” he said.

Lawal emphasised the importance of youth participation in the electoral process, calling for greater inclusion in governance.

“We are determined to mobilise massive support for the party. Every vote counts, and we are putting structures in place to meet and exceed our targets. We also believe that the efforts of young people must be recognised to encourage more participation,” he stated.

He expressed optimism that voter turnout would improve significantly in 2027, citing ongoing sensitisation efforts.

“Ogun State is firmly for the APC. With the level of mobilisation and awareness, we are confident of a higher turnout. Young people are not only ready to vote but are also mobilising their communities,” he said.

Reiterating the group’s ambition, Lawal added: “This time, we are targeting close to one million votes for the APC in Ogun State.”