ABEOKUTA – Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State, has said the APC remains Nigeria’s leading political force ahead of future elections.
Speaking on Agbami Oselu, a political programme on Fresh FM, Akinlade pointed to rising public confidence and the defection of key opposition figures as evidence of the APC’s momentum.
“The APC is not just building alliances; we’re building capacity, strategy, and trust,” he said. “Democracy is about interest — who gets what, when, and how. People gravitate toward a performing party.”
He urged political stakeholders yet to align with the APC to join what he described as a reform-driven and winning team.
Akinlade also noted that the last general election highlighted a shift in voting behaviour, where technology and increased awareness reduced the effect of vote buying.
“It’s now clear that people will take your money and still vote for their choice,” he said. “You must earn their support through genuine engagement and performance.”
Addressing concerns about the APC’s 32-governor strength, Akinlade dismissed the notion that numbers alone would not guarantee victory in 2027, stressing that strategic planning and delivery would secure the party’s future.
He also weighed in on security and agriculture, expressing concern over herder-farmer clashes and backing anti-open grazing laws. However, he emphasised the need for proper enforcement and long-term solutions, including community policing and rural infrastructure.
“Agriculture cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear. Government must tackle insecurity with a multidimensional strategy,” he said.
Akinlade identified Nigeria’s porous northern borders as a source of rising insecurity and expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would address these challenges with holistic policies.
On the proposed single-term tenure debate, Akinlade said leadership quality matters more than term duration.
“You can spend ten years and achieve nothing. I support the current four-year renewable term — it promotes accountability,” he said.
He called for greater focus on institutional reforms and leadership competence rather than constitutional changes.
Akinlade also praised the Tinubu-led APC government for pushing reforms in key sectors like power, transport, and the economy, urging continued emphasis on implementation and citizen engagement.
“It’s no longer business as usual,” he said. “That’s why people are joining the APC — they see the structure, seriousness, and commitment to real progress.”
