By Taiwo Olapade<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_5606-300x201.jpeg\")
\nThe appointment of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as the Director General of the BAT-KOH Campaign Organisation in June this year was greeted with much joy and accolades by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and some politically conscious residents of the state.<\/p>\n
The appointment was likened to that of the best man for the job. However, this is the time to prove that he can meet the high expectations and shoulder the huge responsibilities that come with the position, as campaigns for the 2027 general elections officially kick off today, according to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).<\/p>\n
It is just about 150 days to the conduct of the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections, scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold three weeks later, precisely on February 6, 2027. All eyes are now on Senator Obanikoro to deliver Lagos to the APC.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt about his antecedents and political sagacity to handle the job, but the fact remains that the dynamics are fast changing in the political circle, especially following the recent outcome of the Osun State governorship election.<\/p>\n
It was an election that clearly demonstrated that votes count and reflected the determination and resilience of the people of Osun State. Is this a signal of what the outcome of the 2027 general elections will look like?<\/p>\n
I hope the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke, despite claims of the deployment of federal might, will refresh our memories of the unexpected and unimaginable defeat suffered by the President in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election.<\/p>\n
It was more of a bitter pill to swallow for someone referred to as the Political Oracle, who has recorded many victories for members of the party in various states and at various levels, to suffer a home defeat in an election in which he was a candidate.<\/p>\n
I do not want to go into the reasons why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu suffered such a monumental home defeat in Lagos, but what is more important now is the ingenuity and strategies mapped out by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro to ensure a landslide victory for the party.<\/p>\n
The results of the 2023 presidential election in Lagos, held on February 25, 2023, revealed that Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party secured 582,454 votes, while Bola Tinubu of the APC got 572,606 votes. Atiku Abubakar came a distant third with 75,750 votes. The margin with which Obi won in Lagos was 9,848 votes.<\/p>\n
I have lost count of the different political groups in Lagos under the umbrella of the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, all declaring support for and endorsing Mr. President, as well as the governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Hamzat.<\/p>\n
This may look good, but what is the motive driving some of these groups? The DG has enormous work to do in ensuring that the groups do not work at cross purposes during the campaigns and on election day.<\/p>\n
Let me also quickly remind the distinguished Senator about the aggrieved party members who were allegedly edged out during the last APC primaries. For some, especially those who were popular and considered the choice of the people, the decision taken by the leadership of the party to deny them tickets remains heartbreaking.<\/p>\n
However, they were consoled by the common saying that the party\u2019s decision is supreme, just like the Supreme Court, which has the final say in our jurisprudence. I strongly believe that Senator Obanikoro knows what to do, even if the matter has not been addressed.<\/p>\n
Lagosians expect Senator Obanikoro and his team to lead issue-based campaigns and not engage in unnecessary attacks and insults. I believe there should be enough reasons to convince the people to support his candidates based on the jobs on ground.<\/p>\n
The 2027 electioneering campaigns must be performance-driven and a clear departure from the past.<\/p>\n
The list of some of the 2027 presidential candidates released by INEC includes:<\/p>\n
Three of the presidential contenders, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Omoyele Sowore and Adebayo Adewole, have formed an alliance in the build-up to the election.<\/p>\n
Here in Lagos, contenders for the governorship seat include the current Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, who emerged as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress; Engr. Adedeji Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party; Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who got the ticket of the African Democratic Congress; Abiola Adeyemi, who emerged as the governorship candidate of the APP; and Funsho Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.<\/p>\n
A brief searchlight into the profile of Musiliu Obanikoro revealed that he once served as a council chairman and commissioner, was elected as a senator, contested for the governorship seat, and was appointed ambassador and Minister of State for Defence.<\/p>\n
I guess you will conclude that this is more than enough experience to deliver on the mandate given to him.<\/p>\n
Will Senator Obanikoro reincarnate the popular slogan, \u201cKosi Koro Kosibo,\u201d to win the hearts of over seven million registered voters in Lagos State for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party\u2019s governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat? Only time will tell.<\/p>\n
\u2014Taiwo Olapade, a broadcast journalist, writes from Lagos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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