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As the 2027 general elections inch closer, women mobilisers are looking beyond rallies and prayers to build a 10 million-vote bloc for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; BLESSING OKOLA reports.
On Friday, last week, women from business and political groups gathered at an Abuja mosque to offer prayers for President Bola Tinubu and strategise on mobilising 10 million votes for his re-election bid. The group also announced plans to visit a church as part of efforts to rally women and youths across religious lines to support the president.
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, Amima Bukola Ajikobi, a member of Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), said women from different backgrounds had joined hands to support President Tinubu’s re-election, citing what she described as his “administration’s commitment to women’s development.”
Ajikobi said their support was not driven by party affiliation, but by their assessment of the President’s performance and the policies and initiatives they believe have placed women’s issues on the national agenda.
According to her, the women believe that a second term for Tinubu would provide an opportunity to consolidate existing efforts and achieve more women-focused programmes and initiatives.
She urged women across Nigeria to mobilise and participate actively in the 2027 general elections, calling on them to support the President at the polls.
Ajikobi also commended the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, for her continued efforts to promote women’s visibility, inclusion and participation in national development.
She expressed optimism that sustained government’s attention to women’s issues would create more opportunities for women across the country, including at the state level.
Further support
Also, Princess Omotola Omole, the president of the Association of Nigerian Businesswomen and the ECOWAS Businesswomen, Nigerian Chapter, expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election, noting the president’s policies on women’s development and local content promotion.
Omole said the Muslim women’s prayer gathering was organised as part of efforts to mobilise 10 million votes for the president ahead of the general elections.
She said the gathering brought together women from different backgrounds to pray for a successful election and a second term for Tinubu, whom she credited with promoting policies could benefit Nigerian women and businesses.
“We are all here to support Mr. President for what he is doing for women and his policy to promote Nigerian local content,” she said.
Omole also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for what she described as her “continued efforts to ensure that women are included in national development and have access to opportunities.”
According to her, the mobilisation would extend beyond the Muslim community, with Christian women expected to hold a similar prayer session in church.
She said the planned Christian gathering would provide another opportunity for women to pray for the President and express their support for his return to office in 2027.
However, the proposed 10 million votes remain a mobilisation target, with the level of support for the President to be determined through the electoral process.
Women Affairs’ minister prayers
Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said women across the country were mobilising to deliver 10 million votes for the president and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the initiative followed consultations among women’s groups, who agreed to consolidate their support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, adding that the movement would rely on grassroots networks to mobilise women ahead of the polls.
“Come 2027, we will not gamble; we will speak as one. One voice, one choice, one movement, one mandate,” she said.
According to her, the mobilisation brings together women she described as non-partisan, who are willing to support the administration because of its policies on gender inclusion, child protection, child development and women’s economic empowerment.
Appreciation
She said the women were also using the gathering to appreciate the president for what she described as his “gender-friendly” agenda and commitment to placing women’s issues on the national agenda.
The minister added that the group prayed for the president’s health and wisdom, as well as guidance for its mobilisation efforts ahead of the elections.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the government would continue reviewing gender and child-friendly laws and strengthening institutions responsible for protecting women and children.
The proposed 10 million votes remain a target of the movement, while the level of support for the President will ultimately be determined by voters at the polls.
The mobilisation comes as political groups and stakeholders begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with women’s votes and participation expected to feature prominently in political engagement.
Alsp, Fatima Isah Ndako of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) said the proposed mobilisation of 10 million votes for the president has received the support of women in the association.
She expressed appreciation for the initiative and the visit of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Ndako described the engagement as a “welcome development,” acknowledging the efforts to bring women together as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the next general elections.
“You see this visit of the minister and the clamour to give 10 million votes to the President and his wife. In fact, we say Alhamdulillah,” she said.
As the election approaches, issues such as women’s economic empowerment, healthcare, education, security and social welfare are likely to remain important considerations for voters and advocacy groups.
Ndako’s remarks reflected her appreciation for the minister’s visit and the mobilisation initiative, but do not necessarily represent the views of all FOMWAN members or Muslim women across Nigeria.
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