Former member of the House of Representatives and former Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, emerged as one of the dominant figures at the APC South-West stakeholders’ engagement meeting convened by former Lagos State Governor and Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), signaling the party’s intensifying efforts to consolidate grassroots and labour support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The high-level meeting, held on Tuesday at the Providence Hotel, Ikeja, brought together influential political stakeholders from across the South-West under Fashola’s leadership as the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s South-West Zonal Coordinator for Stakeholders’ Mobilisation.
Political observers noted that Akinlaja’s presence added significant weight to the gathering, given his extensive political experience, labour movement background, and longstanding influence among grassroots constituencies.
With the meeting emphasizing broader engagement beyond traditional party structures, Akinlaja’s credentials as a former national labour leader and federal lawmaker positioned him as a strategic bridge between the APC and critical voter blocs, including trade unions, artisans, and community-based groups.
The stakeholders’ session also attracted Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, APC Lagos Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, former Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, former Ekiti State Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, and representatives from the six South-West states.
In his address, Fashola unveiled a robust mobilisation framework, advocating the establishment of engagement committees at state, local government, and ward levels to strengthen support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election project. He further urged party leaders to expand outreach efforts beyond APC members to embrace opposition figures, aggrieved stakeholders, artisans, labour groups, and first-time voters.
Akinlaja’s participation stood out against this backdrop, reinforcing the party’s determination to deepen its connection with workers and grassroots communities, sectors widely regarded as crucial to the success of any nationwide political campaign.
The meeting also focused on reconciliation among party leaders and strengthening regional unity. Speaking on behalf of stakeholders, former Governor Mimiko disclosed that participants resolved to put aside internal differences and work collectively toward advancing President Tinubu’s second-term agenda, citing achievements in areas such as educational stability and digital infrastructure development.
With influential figures like Hon. Joseph Akinlaja playing an active role in the emerging mobilisation architecture, the APC South-West appears set to leverage both political and labour networks as it begins laying the foundation for what could become one of the region’s most coordinated campaign efforts ahead of 2027.
