The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun preparations for the 2027 general elections with an interfaith prayer for peaceful polls and victory for its candidates.
The prayer session was held on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos Island, with Christian, Muslim and traditional worshippers joining party leaders, candidates and supporters to seek divine guidance ahead of the forthcoming elections.
At the end of the prayers, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged APC candidates and supporters to trust in God’s direction, saying the Almighty had entrusted the leadership of the country and Lagos State to those currently in government.
He prayed for the success of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; and other party candidates contesting seats in the National Assembly and the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence that Lagosians would support the party’s candidates at the polls, while asking God to grant them victory.
He also prayed for peaceful conduct of the elections, urging that the electoral process should be free from clashes, accidents and other disasters.
According to him, the gathering was organised to commit the candidates and the 2027 elections into the hands of God and seek divine intervention for a peaceful and successful electoral process.
The Director-General of the Obafemi Hamzat Campaign Organisation, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the prayer was important because human efforts alone could not determine the outcome of every circumstance.
He urged APC members to place the interest of the party above personal ambitions, warning that internal disagreements could weaken the party ahead of the elections.
Obanikoro called for dialogue, reconciliation, discipline and unity among candidates and supporters, urging them to conduct their campaigns with respect and focus on their capacity to serve the people.
He said the campaign organisation would take the APC’s message to every part of Lagos State, including the 20 local government areas, 37 Local Council Development Areas and the wider South-West.
Obanikoro expressed confidence in the party’s victory in the presidential, National Assembly and state elections, particularly projecting the emergence of Hamzat as the next governor of Lagos State and Damilola Sonayon James as deputy governor.
In his remarks, Hamzat said the interfaith prayer provided an opportunity for the party to commit its candidates and the electoral process to God.
He prayed for peaceful elections without clashes, accidents or loss of lives, while expressing confidence that God would grant the APC victory at the polls.
Hamzat also expressed confidence in the success of the party’s candidates contesting the three senatorial seats, 24 House of Representatives seats and 40 Lagos State House of Assembly seats.
He urged party members and supporters to remain united and focused as the campaign progresses, saying the party must approach the elections with discipline and a shared commitment to its objectives.
The event was attended by several party leaders and stakeholders, including the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; former Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, including Pa Tajudeen Olusi; Senator Ganiu Solomon; Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Idiat Adebule; former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; and Fouad Oki.
Also present were members of the National Assembly and Lagos State House of Assembly, members of Conference 57, comprising the 20 local government chairmen and 37 LCDAs, as well as religious leaders, traditional rulers, traditionalists and party supporters.
