The Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Mobilisation Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has set a target of mobilising at least five million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The National Director of the directorate, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, disclosed this on Wednesday during the inaugural meeting of its leadership at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. Abba Isa, who also serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, said the directorate would mobilise eligible voters with disabilities across the country to support Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
He explained that the meeting was convened to develop strategies for engaging the disability community ahead of the party’s presidential campaign. According to him, the directorate would leverage existing disability organisations, community leaders and grassroots networks to strengthen the party’s presence among persons with disabilities nationwide.
Abba Isa described persons with disabilities as a significant electoral constituency whose participation could influence electoral outcomes if effectively organised and mobilised. He said the directorate was committed to translating the party’s engagement with the disability community into tangible electoral support.
Explaining the rationale behind the directorate’s support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, Abba Isa highlighted what he described as the administration’s contributions to disability inclusion and representation in governance. He cited the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the creation of disability-focused agencies in several states and the establishment of an office for special needs and equal opportunities within the Presidency as notable developments.
The APC-PCC disability mobilisation chief said the directorate would continue to engage disability associations and other stakeholders to strengthen political participation and encourage eligible voters with disabilities to make their voices count at the ballot box.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Co-Director of the PWDs Mobilisation Directorate and APC National Leader of Persons with Disabilities, Aare Durotolu Oyebode Bankole, expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
Bankole said the APC was working towards securing victory for Tinubu and other party candidates, insisting that the party intended to win by a substantial margin. “There is no vacancy in Aso Rock,” he declared, reaffirming the party’s determination to retain the presidency.
In her remarks, Hon. Lois Auta, Deputy Director for Women in the PWDs Mobilisation Directorate and a board member of the Maryam Abacha National Centre for Women Development, pledged active participation by women with disabilities in the campaign.
Auta identified the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the proposed Reserved Seats Bill for women and persons with disabilities as important developments in the broader quest for political representation. She also commended the APC for including a woman with a disability in the directorate’s leadership, describing the move as an opportunity to strengthen inclusive political engagement.
Beyond political mobilisation, Abba Isa stressed the importance of removing barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating fully in elections. He disclosed that disability organisations, support groups and media representatives had engaged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly the need for accessible polling units and voting procedures.
He urged relevant stakeholders to ensure that eligible voters with disabilities could exercise their constitutional right to vote without unnecessary obstacles.
Other participants at the meeting included the directorate’s Secretary, Misbahu Lawan Didi, and Ayuba Burki Gufidan, alongside other party officials and disability-sector representatives.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the directorate faces the challenge of converting its five-million-vote target into effective nationwide mobilisation. Its ability to engage voters with disabilities, strengthen grassroots structures and promote accessible electoral participation will be critical to achieving its stated objective.
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