Women Used as Symbols of Hope

{ "articleTitle": "APC Women Stakeholders Summit Mobilizes Grassroots Support in Abuja", "articleDescription": "First Lady Oluremi Tinubu convened the APC Women Stakeholders Mobilization and Empowerment Summit in Abuja on October 5, 2026, aiming to secure 40 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.", "articleBody": "

Abuja Shutdown for Political Mobilization

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Nigerian women, particularly members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), gathered in Abuja on Monday, October 5, 2026, for the APC Women Stakeholders Mobilization and Empowerment Summit. The event was described as a \"show of force\" designed to consolidate grassroots support for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The summit was convened by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and organized by the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s Women Mobilisation Directorate, led by Dr. Betta Edu, alongside Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. The gathering operated under the theme \"Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0: From Reforms to Prosperity.\"

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Organizers stated that the primary objective of the mobilization was to target 40 million votes for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima. The event included the inauguration of the Women Directorate of The APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and presentations detailing the party's performance metrics.

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Economic Scorecards and Policy Implementation

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During the summit, the Renewed Hope Initiative presented a scorecard covering economic empowerment, social investment, education, health, agriculture, and employment across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. This presentation aimed to highlight the administration's progress in these sectors as part of its broader campaign narrative.

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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu addressed the attendees, emphasizing the necessity for women to be supported at all levels of government. She highlighted Nigeria's proximity to implementing the National Gender Policy (NGP 2006), which mandates 35% affirmative action for women in governance structures.

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Dr. Betta Edu, identified as a former APC National Women Leader, was noted for her role in directing the mobilization efforts. The event marked a shift from previous party committees that had reportedly excluded women from key strategic planning roles.

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Voter Demographics and Democratic Participation

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The summit's focus on female voter engagement drew upon statistical data regarding Nigeria's electorate. A 2023 study by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace was cited during the event, asserting that while men hold a slight majority of registered voters in Nigeria—approximately 52.5% compared to women's 47.5%—women demonstrate higher turnout rates and engagement levels in actual voting processes.

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Speakers at the summit referenced international perspectives on gender and democracy to underscore the importance of female participation. Hillary Clinton was quoted stating, \"There cannot be true democracy unless women’s voices are heard. There cannot be true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives and are able to participate fully in the lives of their country.\" Additionally, former President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was cited declaring that society requires greater numerical representation from women, though the full extent of her statement was not provided in the source