By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

The All Progressives Congress (APC) State Chairmen’s Forum has begun a nationwide inspection tour of projects executed by APC administrations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The forum said the exercise would enable state party chairmen to evaluate developmental projects and achievements before engaging Nigerians during campaigns for the forthcoming elections.

The initiative was announced on Sunday after members concluded a three-day meeting and inspection of landmark projects in Lagos, ending with a courtesy visit to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Addressing journalists at the Lagos State Government House, Marina, the forum’s Chairman and Lagos APC Chairman, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi, explained the objectives of the nationwide assessment.

Ojelabi said Lagos was deliberately selected as the first destination because of what he described as the state’s remarkable developmental strides under successive APC administrations.

“We are beginning our tour of the 36 states and Abuja because we believe it is important for the leadership of our party to assess the achievements recorded by APC,” he said.

According to him, the ruling party presently controls at least 32 states alongside the Federal Government, making periodic evaluation of governance achievements both necessary and beneficial.

He said the inspection would equip party leaders with verifiable evidence of government performance while interacting with voters during campaigns across different parts of the federation.

“The purpose of bringing together the chairmen is to assess these achievements so that, when they meet the electorate, they will have tangible accomplishments to present.

“If I am asking Nigerians to vote for my party, I must be able to point to what we have done to positively impact their lives,” he said.

The forum’s spokesman and Edo APC Chairman, Chief Jarrett Tenebe, said members devoted two days to inspecting projects undertaken by President Bola Tinubu and the Lagos Government.

“We visited several completed projects, and they speak for themselves. These are projects we intend to showcase across Nigeria.

“They are evidence that the President is a man of honour, committed to development and deserving of another opportunity to serve the nation,” he said.

Tenebe disclosed that the forum also held extensive deliberations on preparations for the 2027 general elections during its three-day gathering in Lagos.

He said members resolved to sustain similar engagements across the federation while strengthening collaboration with APC governors and grassroots party structures to improve mobilisation efforts.

According to him, the forum equally agreed to convene additional meetings in Abuja to address emerging challenges before the elections and promote peaceful electoral participation.

“We agreed to hold additional meetings in Abuja to address challenges ahead of the elections and ensure a seamless, peaceful and credible electoral process,” Tenebe said.

The forum’s Secretary and Nasarawa APC Chairman, Dr Aliyu Bello, expressed satisfaction with the projects inspected during the Lagos visit, describing them as beyond expectations.

“We came to Lagos expecting to assess projects, but what we saw exceeded our expectations,” Bello said while commending the state’s infrastructural development.

Bello said that the forum had resolved to organise a retreat for APC state chairmen and confirmed Kano as the venue for its next meeting.

Earlier, Governor Sanwo-Olu welcomed the forum and urged members to consolidate party unity while sustaining grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“I’m excited that the leadership of our great party has come together at the highest level to demonstrate unity, solidarity and commitment to the continued growth of APC,” he said.

The governor encouraged the chairmen to continue sharing experiences, strengthening party structures and providing purposeful leadership in their respective states across the country.

“Your willingness to work together, share experiences and build stronger party structures is commendable.

“As leaders of our great party in your respective states, you have the responsibility to continue providing courageous and purposeful leadership.

“Continue to unite our members and position the APC for greater success,” he said. (NAN)

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