In a significant move ahead of the 2027 general elections, Dr. Martina Yilwatda, the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, has launched a vigorous campaign to rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reelection.
Women Must Take Ownership, Not Just Demand Inclusion
Speaking at a meeting with the Women Leadership Network (WLN) on Sunday in Abuja, Dr. Yilwatda delivered a powerful message. She insisted that for Nigerian women to achieve expanded representation in governance, they must move beyond lamenting their under-representation. She argued that women must deliberately mobilise votes and political structures for their fellow women, rather than consistently campaigning for male aspirants.
"We must not only come out to work, we must come out to contest," she stressed. "If we want a different narrative, the change must begin with us. We have to be deliberate." She explained that the narrative of exclusion would change faster if women actively support other women seeking public office at all levels.
Building a Nationwide Structure for Political Legacy
Dr. Yilwatda detailed the ambitious plan for the Women Leadership Network. The structure is being built to function from the national level down to states, local governments, political wards, and even polling units. Its core mission is to identify, mentor, and encourage more women to run for office while preparing younger entrants for long-term political continuity.
Emphasising the need to establish WLN branches across all 36 states, she called on experienced women politicians to mentor the younger generation. She underscored that political legacy only holds meaning when successors are properly nurtured.
Praise for Tinubu and a Call to Action for 2027
Dr. Yilwatda also commended President Tinubu for what she described as his deliberate engagement with women under his Renewed Hope Agenda. She stated that his administration has provided more advisory space to women than previous governments.
She urged APC women to defend this record in their local communities and to throw their full support behind President Tinubu's reelection project in 2027. This support, she said, should also extend to all APC candidates, from the National Assembly down to councillorship positions across the federation.
Backing her remarks, the National Coordinator of WLN, Dr. Fauziya Buhari-Ado, declared that Nigeria is at a defining moment in its democratic evolution and women can no longer afford to be spectators. She stated that the WLN is not a platform for empty speeches but a coalition focused on:
- Grassroots mobilisation
- Policy influence
- Field-based enlightenment
She highlighted the critical role women play in driving Nigeria's informal economy through agriculture and trade, yet their underrepresentation in formal policy architecture persists. "What we do today is about legacy," she asserted. "Women must become architects of national progress, not passive beneficiaries."
