By ADEYEMI ADELEYE/ADERONKE OJEDIRAN

The APC in Lagos State has announced a N20 million reward for the Local Government Area (LGA) with highest record of registered voters in the ongoing INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

The Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, announced this at the 2025 State APC Stakeholders Forum, held on Tuesday in Lagos.

Ojelabi, who applauded party loyalists for the support for the party, urged party leaders in polling units, wards and local governments to mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Today’s meeting affords us the opportunity to reflect on our performance in the past two years, to know where we are and how fast we need to move to reach out target.

“We are placing a N1 million for the polling unit with the highest registrations in the ongoing INEC’s CVR, while 5 million will be given to the ward that records the highest.

“The local government recording the highest number will be given the sum of N20 million. So, the competition has started,” Ojelabi said.

The party chairman urged party leaders at various levels to mobilise people in all corners of the state to participate in the exercise.

He urged them to ensure people get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote in 2027.

According to him, no matter the love anyone has for the party, without PVC, no supporter will be able to vote during elections.

Urging party leaders to work in unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, Ojelabi said that the party would soon begin a tour of all LGAs.

He said: “I enjoin you to get more involved and continue to make more meaningful impact on the people, your regions, local governments, and communities.

“I am proud of you for standing by the party in our resolve to pull the Nigerian government on track.

“Since we do not have any other country, our approach of confronting problems with the right attitude is the best for a lasting solution.

“Our party is the darling of the nation. We appreciate the trust and loyalty for APC. We cherish the love for the party; we don’t take this for granted.

Noting that the President Bola Tinubu had been working hard to reposition the country’s economy, Ojelabi charged party loyalists to spread the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the people at the grassroots.

Speaking, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who was represented by the APC National Secretary, Dr Ajibola Basiru, said that the National Working Committee (NWC) was working hard to make APC the party of choice in Nigeria.

Yilwatda emphasised the need for APC leaders to work hard to ensure at least 85 per cent voter turnout in 2027 general elections.

According to him, the party has fixed for Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 for the South West “train the trainer” programme to educate citizens on the progress made so far by the ruling party.

Speaking on Voter Apathy and the Sanctity of Election in Nigeria’s Budding Democracy, a former Lagos governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that the party must interrogate the reason for decreasing votes during elections.

Fashola said: “We are facing increasing voter registration and decreasing voter turnout. I think that is not good for us. We should interrogate why the turnout is decreasing.

“We used to be the party with the highest total votes. What has happened? Why have the votes dropped?”

The former governor recalled that at a time, Lagos turned out about 1.5m votes while the closest rival was around 300,000 saying “where are our traditional voters?”

He said that political party participation is based on enthusiasm.

“Hope is not lost, therefore we will turn our renewed hope to renewed enthusiasm,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that reports that various dignitaries, including Rep. Dolapo Badru (Lagos State Caucus Leader of the House of Representatives) and Sen. Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos State Caucus Leader in the Senate), highlighted the various achievements of the Federal Government in the last two years.

Also speaking at the forum, federal cabinet members, including Minister of Education; Dr Tunji Alausa, his counterpart in the Ministry of Trade and Investment; Dr Olajumoke Oduwole, highlighted the President’s achievements in education, trade and other sectors.

The meeting was attended by APC leaders in Lagos, including senators, state lawmakers, and council chairmen.

Party leaders from other South West states and traditional rulers were also present.

Former Gov. Akinwumi Ambode, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr Mudashiru Obasa; his predecessor, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji; and Chairman, Lagos State Advisory Council Prince Tajudeen Olusi, were among those present. (NAN)