Senator Lalong, Speaker Abbas, others rally support for President Tinubu’s re-election as former presiding officers convene in Kaduna
A former Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Lalong, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen party structures, promote unity and sustain grassroots engagement as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections
Lalong made the call while delivering the keynote address at the strategic meeting of the Forum of APC Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly (FOPSHAN), Kaduna State Chapter, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna.
Senator Lalong, who is Chairman of the Conference of Former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria (COFSSHA) and former Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, said the experience of legislators and their close connection with constituents placed them in a strategic position to strengthen the party’s mobilisation efforts.
He noted that electoral success depended not only on the popularity of candidates or the strength of the national leadership but also on effective organisation, disciplined coordination, credible communication and sustained engagement with the electorate.
According to him, members and presiding officers of State Houses of Assembly understand the concerns of their constituencies, maintain relationships with community leaders and stakeholders, and possess valuable knowledge of local political dynamics that can help the APC connect more effectively with the people.
Lalong urged the Kaduna State chapter of FOPSHAN to use the strategic meeting to develop practical mobilisation plans, assess existing party structures, identify gaps and establish a coordinated framework for engagement across the state’s 23 local government areas.
On the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda, the former Governor acknowledged that the President assumed office at a time of significant economic and structural challenges, necessitating difficult policy decisions aimed at repositioning the economy, improving public finances, attracting investment and laying a more sustainable foundation for national development.
He said while the reforms had brought difficult adjustments for households and businesses, APC leaders must engage Nigerians honestly, listen to their concerns and explain the objectives and progress of government policies in clear and factual terms.
“As we mobilise support for the President’s re-election, our communication must be factual, persuasive and responsive to the concerns of the people,” Lalong said, stressing that the party must communicate verifiable achievements while recognising areas where further improvements were necessary.
He urged party leaders to pay particular attention to public concerns about the cost of living, employment, security, infrastructure and access to essential services, noting that credible communication and responsiveness to citizens were essential to building public confidence.
Lalong also highlighted Kaduna State’s strategic importance in the political and economic life of Northern Nigeria, calling on APC stakeholders to consolidate the party’s structures under Governor Uba Sani, strengthen unity and deepen engagement with communities across the state.
Drawing from his experience as former Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Lalong explained that successful campaigns required strategic planning, effective communication, disciplined execution and coordination across all levels of the party.
He said the national leadership must communicate its vision clearly, state structures must translate it into strategies suited to local realities, while grassroots leaders must ensure that campaign messages reached the people in ways they could understand and assess.
The Senator called on FOPSHAN members to support President Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and all duly nominated APC candidates in the forthcoming elections through peaceful, lawful and credible political engagement.
In separate goodwill messages, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; and APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, also expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election and underscored the need to sustain the administration’s reforms.
The speakers highlighted the importance of unity, effective coordination and collective commitment among party leaders and stakeholders in advancing the APC’s objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The strategic meeting was organised as part of efforts to mobilise legislative experience and strengthen the APC’s political structures in Kaduna State ahead of the planned flag-off of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council activities.
