APC Bigwigs Converge as Sarafa Tunji Isola Redefines Grassroots Unity Ahead of 2027.
In a gathering that blended political experience, strategic foresight, and moral clarity, leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun Central Senatorial District on Monday, January 26, 2026 converged at the Ibara GRA, Abeokuta residence of former Governor of Ogun State and revered party leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba. The meeting, convened at a defining moment in the party’s ongoing e-registration exercise, served not merely as a strategic caucus but as a reaffirmation of the APC’s foundational values of unity, inclusiveness, and grassroots mobilisation.
Presided over by the Chairman of the APC in the senatorial district, Chief Sunday Sowunmi, the high-level meeting drew an imposing array of party leaders and elected officials, including the erstwhile Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola OFR, whose voice and vision formed the moral and philosophical anchor of the gathering. Also in attendance were the Senator representing Ogun Central, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu; the member representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Hon. Afolabi Maruf Afuape; the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Daisi Elemide; former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tunji Egbetokun; former Senator Gbenga Obadara; APC chieftain, Dr. Sikurulahi Ogundele; the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye; and the six local government chairmen of the district led by the ALGON Chairman, Dr. Waliat Folasade Adeyemo, among other critical stakeholders.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola OFR delivered what many present described as a timely, sobering, and profoundly statesmanlike message—one that elevated the conversation beyond immediate political gains to the enduring strength of party cohesion. With characteristic clarity, the former Minister of Mines and Steel Development stressed that unity is not a slogan but the true currency of electoral success, warning that disunity, if unchecked, could undermine even the strongest political machinery.
Drawing inspiration from the inclusive leadership philosophy consistently espoused by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Ambassador Isola reminded party members that elections are ultimately won through collective effort rather than individual prominence. He underscored the practical realities of grassroots politics, noting that no single individual—no matter how powerful—can single-handedly secure victory across thousands of polling units.
“Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has always emphasised inclusive leadership,” Ambassador Isola said. “What matters most is that once we can bond and blend, then the election is taken care of. The unity of party members is crucial to having a very successful election.”
In a metaphor that resonated deeply across the room, he added that even a governor could not effectively man more than one polling booth on election day, let alone oversee the more than 6,000 polling units spread across Ogun State. According to him, this reality makes unity, mutual respect, and grassroots inclusion not optional virtues but strategic necessities.
“Ogun State has over 6,000 polling booths,” he said. “We need one another. We must prioritise inclusive leadership at the grassroots and bring everyone on board if we are to take the party to greater heights.”
Ambassador Isola further explained that genuine unity would naturally lead to rancour-free primaries, foster a sense of belonging among party members, and strengthen the APC’s internal democracy—critical pillars for sustaining the party’s winning streak beyond 2027. His remarks framed unity not merely as a pre-election tactic but as a long-term investment in political stability and institutional strength.
Corroborating this position, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu described the meeting as a deliberate unity engagement aimed at mobilising members, reinforcing cohesion, and accelerating membership growth through the ongoing APC e-registration exercise. He expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm shown by stakeholders and disclosed that early figures from the registration drive were already encouraging, with one local government reportedly registering over 15,000 members within a single week.
While noting that the party had not set a rigid numerical target, the senator explained that the broader objective was to ensure that APC membership would reach at least 50 to 51 per cent of the total registered voters in the state, a threshold that would further consolidate the party’s dominance in Ogun Central and beyond.
He urged party members to remain steadfast, to continue mobilising for both INEC registration and APC membership enrolment, and to sustain their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, which he noted was already yielding visible results despite initial challenges. He also reaffirmed the need to support the Ogun State Government in its efforts to improve the welfare of citizens, particularly within the Central Senatorial District.
Earlier in his remarks, the senatorial chairman, Chief Sunday Sowunmi, called on party members to serve the APC with integrity, discipline, and renewed dedication, stressing that the strength of the party lies in the character and commitment of its members.
As the meeting drew to a close, one message stood unmistakably clear: the APC’s future in Ogun Central is being consciously anchored on unity, inclusion, and grassroots strength. At the heart of that message was the steady, unifying voice of Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola OFR, whose counsel reminded party leaders that political success is secured not by fragmentation or personal ambition, but by collective purpose, shared responsibility, and unwavering commitment to the people.
