A coalition of artisan associations across Nigeria has pledged to mobilise at least 15 million votes for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential election, declaring support for the administration despite the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
The Coalition of Nigerian Artisan Associations (CONAA) said its endorsement was informed by its belief that the Federal Government’s economic reforms, investments in infrastructure, education financing and efforts to address insecurity would yield long-term benefits for the country.
The coalition, which comprises associations of mechanics, carpenters, welders, aluminium fabricators, iron benders, bricklayers and other skilled workers, also announced plans for a nationwide mobilisation campaign to secure support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Director-General of CONAA, Chief Segun Ajibulu, said the coalition would begin a nationwide tour on October 24 to sensitise artisans and mobilise support for the President and his deputy ahead of the 2027 elections.
The briefing, themed “2027 Elections: The Role of Artisans in Electoral Politics,” brought together representatives of artisan groups and other organisations from different parts of the country.
Ajibulu said the coalition considered the election crucial to Nigeria’s political and economic future, noting that the country’s size and strategic position made its electoral process significant beyond its borders.
“As the largest democracy in Africa and being the host of the biggest single concentration of black people all over the world, with over 200 million people, the 2027 election is of significance not only to Africa but to the entire world,” the coalition said.
CONAA said it had established zonal coordinating units across the six geopolitical zones to drive its mobilisation efforts and reach artisans in the 36 states of the federation.
Its campaign strategy includes producing 10 million educational pamphlets, establishing an internet radio station and deploying social media campaigns to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements to artisans and other Nigerians.
The coalition said it believed the government had created opportunities for artisans to access loans through banks and other financial institutions, adding that improved economic conditions and security would help small businesses thrive.
Acknowledging the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, CONAA argued that the challenges confronting the country were deep-rooted and could not be resolved within a few years.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria is passing through many challenges. Some of these obstacles are historical. They have been there for many years,” it said.
The coalition identified poverty, unemployment, corruption, inadequate housing, terrorism and the challenges of managing Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities as some of the country’s longstanding problems.
It nevertheless expressed confidence in the Tinubu administration, arguing that the reforms initiated since May 2023 required time to deliver their full benefits.
Among the reasons it gave for supporting the President and his deputy was the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which it described as a significant intervention in expanding access to higher education.
CONAA also backed moves towards establishing state police, saying decentralising the country’s security architecture could help tackle insecurity and improve the environment for investment and economic activities.
On the economy, the coalition cited what it described as improved remittances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to the Federation Account, alongside growth in the country’s foreign reserves.
It also endorsed the Federal Government’s major road infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and proposed road connections linking Lagos to Sokoto and Calabar to Enugu, arguing that improved transport infrastructure would support commerce and artisans’ businesses.
On security, CONAA said reported operations against terrorist groups had helped restore confidence in the government’s capacity to address insecurity, which it described as a major threat to livelihoods and business activities.
The coalition maintained that sustained implementation of the administration’s policies would improve economic opportunities for artisans and other small-scale operators.
It also argued that the proposed nationwide mobilisation would give artisans a more coordinated role in electoral politics, enabling their associations to participate collectively in the 2027 political process.
Ajibulu was accompanied at the briefing by the General Secretary of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Mr David Ajitumobi; the Vice President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum; and the Chairman of the South East Artisan Coalition (SEACO), Mr Fred Ojinika.
The coalition urged its members across the country to participate in the planned mobilisation campaign in support of Tinubu and Shettima’s bid for re-election.
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