By Feyisetan Hamzat | Benny News Hub | Ibadan
The Presidential Coalition Council (PCC), a political structure set up to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, was officially launched on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State, with party leaders urging Nigerians to prepare to return the President to office to consolidate ongoing reforms.
The National Coordinator of the PCC, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, made the call through his representative, Hon. Abiodun Mafe, at the launch and sensitisation programme held at CAC Grammar School, Ibadan. The event was organised and sponsored by Hon. Bakare Ayotunde Nurudeen.
Speaking on behalf of Hon. Faleke, Hon. Mafe admonished party members and supporters to remain committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and continue to mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 general elections. He conveyed President Tinubu’s message to party faithful, urging them to sustain grassroots engagement and promote the administration’s policies and achievements.
According to him, the President expressed confidence that the APC would record victories at both the national and state levels, including Oyo State, and advised party members not to entertain fear or discouragement. He also stressed the importance of voter participation, urging members to safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and encouraging eligible Nigerians without PVCs to register, noting that effective mobilisation is meaningless without voter turnout.
Also speaking at the event, a member of the PCC team from Abuja, Hon. Abdullah Enilolobo, described the choice of Ibadan for the PCC launch as strategic, noting that the city accounts for nearly half of the total votes in Oyo State. He commended Hon. Bakare Ayotunde Nurudeen for deploying personal resources to host the event and drive awareness of President Tinubu’s policies at the grassroots.
Hon. Enilolobo argued that Nigeria was on the brink of economic collapse before the 2023 elections, stating that the country was borrowing to pay salaries and faced looming bankruptcy. He credited the Tinubu administration with stabilising the economy through key reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, the floating of the naira, and the introduction of a new tax regime.
He added that since 2023, Nigeria has witnessed improvements including increased national minimum wage and significantly higher financial allocations to states and local governments. He urged party members to work collectively to secure victory for the APC in both the 2027 presidential and Oyo State governorship elections.
The Presidential Coalition Council was formally inaugurated by Hon. Abiodun Mafe, who disclosed that more support groups would be integrated into the PCC structure in the coming weeks. On behalf of Hon. James Faleke, PCC souvenirs were also presented to Hon. Bakare Ayotunde Nurudeen in appreciation of his role in organising the launch.
In his remarks, Hon. Bakare expressed appreciation to the PCC leadership from Abuja and reaffirmed his confidence in Hon. Faleke’s leadership, describing him as a seasoned political strategist with a track record of electoral success, having served as Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Council during the 2023 elections.
The event attracted notable APC leaders and stakeholders from across Oyo State, including Alhaji Mufutau Adisa Gbayawu (Ibadan), Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi (Oke-Ogun), Hon. Alli, a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Abegbo Lawal, and Madam Isijola. Serving lawmakers present included Hon. Shittu Ibrahim and Hon. Musbau Azeez.
Other members of the PCC delegation from Abuja included Hon. Akeem Bamgbola, Hon. Tunde Williams, Hon. Femi Afikuyomi, among others.
