Lagos Traditional Leaders Plan Wider Community Mobilisation for 2027
Kehinde Adeleye
Residents and community leaders across Lagos are set to become a major focus of a grassroots mobilisation drive ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the Lagos State Baales Forum plans to use its network of traditional community leaders to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
The forum’s convener, Dr Seyi Bamigbade, disclosed this during a public engagement organised by the Lagos Division of the forum, attended by traditional chiefs, community leaders and APC supporters.
Bamigbade said traditional leaders were closely connected to the people in their communities and therefore had a role to play in voter mobilisation and encouraging residents to remain engaged in the electoral process.
He said the forum would deploy its network across communities to support Tinubu’s re-election bid and Hamzat’s governorship campaign in Lagos.
The forum’s support for the two politicians is its stated position, with the group also commending the Tinubu administration over what it described as its focus on infrastructure, economic development and respect for traditional institutions.
The Lagos Division of the forum also reaffirmed its support for Hamzat, citing his administrative experience, loyalty and understanding of the development blueprint of Lagos State.
Bamigbade said the planned mobilisation would extend beyond Lagos, disclosing that the South-West Baales Forum would hold a region-wide endorsement of Tinubu and APC candidates.
According to him, the event is scheduled for October 7, 2026, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where traditional community leaders from across the South-West are expected to converge.
He said the initiative was intended to strengthen coordination among traditional institutions and deepen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Lagos State Baales Forum had earlier announced the establishment of dedicated coordinators across polling units in the state as part of its mobilisation structure.
It has also organised voter sensitisation activities under its “Operation Show Your PVC” campaign, which it said was aimed at encouraging eligible residents to participate in elections.
As the 2027 elections approach, the forum’s latest initiative places community networks and traditional institutions at the centre of its planned political mobilisation.
Bamigbade urged residents and community stakeholders to remain engaged in the electoral process, while the Lagos Division called for continued support for the APC at the state and federal levels.
