Politics
How SWAGA’23 Aided Tinubu’s Journey to Aso Rock Villa

The lifetime ambition achieved by President Bola Tinubu at the recent general elections did not come on a platter of gold. Starting from the build-up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in May 2022, President Tinubu’s electoral success in the struggle against odds was achieved through prayers, determination, dint of hard work, political experience, general acceptability, networks, mostly through a few fanatic foot soldiers, who were strong believers of his political ideology and school of thought.
Even, when the kingmaker’s chances of leading the most populous African nation are seemingly high and brightened in the Northern region of Nigeria, it was not so in his Southwest base, as the region appeared opaque, nebulous, vague, and unpredictable due to obvious threats from his then political sons who had once reaped from his benevolent leadership as they did not only desperately showed interest in the ‘Aso Rock Villa’ race, but pursued it vigorously and were bent on making him unattractive for the race.
At the eruption of the violent and destructive ENDSARS protests that rocked Nigeria, especially Lagos State, it became obvious that political enemies and traducers were not just satisfied with being calumniators of the ‘Lion of Bourdillon’ but have finally gone for the jugular” of the one who brought most of them into political limelight as he became the target of a coordinated attack that initially started like a child’s play but ended claiming scores of lives, ruining businesses and livelihood and razing Asiwaju’s Television Station to the extent that some business owners had to put out public notices that their businesses do not belong to nor have anything to do with Tinubu. What a time to be alive!
This was the lowest point in the political Journey of the “master political strategist” and it was the regenerative turning point for his rise again like the mythical phoenix as SWAGA’23 was formally birthed, with its inaugural meeting and launch in Ibadan on 15th December 2020.
The South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA’23) became the pivotal group with a clear-cut programme of advocacy, sensitization, and mobilization of support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest the Presidential elections in 2023.
The group targeted the traditional institutions, opinion molders, political stalwarts across party divides, and youth in the southwest of Nigeria to wake them up to the possibility and reality of Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidential contest, the need to encourage him to step out, the essence of supporting him from home as “charity begins from home” and the importance of reconciling the home base with him once again. Although It is clear that most mentees of Asiwaju Tinubu that rose against him, competed, or worked against his presidential ambition overtly or covertly did not do so because they didn’t find Tinubu intelligent, capable or worthy of the exalted office but because they were driven by personal ambition and envy.
From 2020, despite the onslaught of Covid-19, SWAGA’23 traveled across the six (6) States of South West, visiting traditional rulers to plead for their support whilst urging them to call out Tinubu to contest the presidential elections. The response was not only encouraging, but it was also energizing as it provided the inspiration to even go beyond the South West to South-South and North Central Regions with visits to Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Plateau, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue States, and FCT where groups like the North Central Agenda for Asiwaju (NCAA), Akwa Ibom Stakeholders for Asiwaju Tinubu (AKISAT), Delta State for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (DESBAT) and CrossSwaga were formed and inaugurated for the Sensitisation and support drive towards 2023.
In all, the leadership and members of the group visited over 300 traditional rulers and none of the monarchs had anything negative to say about President Tinubu, rather their interests were ignited with a passion for Asiwaju.
The birth of SWAGA inspired the formation of various Asiwaju support groups in their hundreds, although many of them didn’t have the plans, purpose, and programme of SWAGA’23; therefore they existed more on social media platforms, without clear-cut direction than on the streets to preach the gospel of Asiwaju Tinubu.
SWAGA ’23, with a well-defined aim, mission, and purpose-driven agenda, did not only strategize politically to market President Tinubu but the group also came out on a very strong conviction that the former governor of Lagos state will be the best president that Nigeria would ever have.
Conceived and convened by a former lawmaker, who represented the IJERO/EFON/EKITI WEST federal constituency of Ekiti State at the House of Representatives, a Political, Peace, and Conflict scholar and son-in-law to the Asiwaju; Oyetunde Ojo, the foremost political group, SWAGA’23, which committed itself and personal resources, both human, material, and networks, has in its fold former lawmakers, including Senators, House of Representatives members, state House of Assembly members, and local government chairmen among others.
Interestingly, the Central Working Committee leading SWAGA ’23 is made up of veteran politicians cum technocrats led by Its chairman, Senator ‘Dayo Adeyeye; a former Minister of State for Works, former media Adviser to Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) for the 1993 elections, ex-media and publicity adviser to Chief Olu Falae (when he contested Presidential election), former spokesman of Afenifere (The Pan Yoruba Group), an astute lawyer and Media Manager.
The Secretary; Hon. Bosun Oladele is equally a lawyer of note, a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Oyo State, a former House of Representatives and ECOWAS parliament member who once represented Nigeria at the Africa/ Caribbean/Pacific-European Union joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Others are, Senator Adesoji Akanbi (Vice Chairman), who is a former House of Representatives member and ECOWAS Parliament member and who later broke away from the group to form the Coalition Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (COMBAT), Senator, Olugbenga Obadara, also a former member of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Chairman of the group in Ogun State, Senator Tony Adeniyi (SAN); Ekiti State Chairman of the group, Hon. Monsuru Alao; a four-term House of Representatives member from Lagos State and Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the group, Hon. Ayo Omidiran, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, one of the pioneer female Soccer administrators in Nigeria and the Chairperson of the group in Osun State, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; a two -term House of Representatives member and former Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Hon. Sunday Adepoju; a two-term House of Representatives member and the current Post Master General of Nigeria, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade; three-term House of Representatives member recently elected for the fourth term, Hon. Rotimi Makinde; a former House of Representatives member and a coordinator of the Youth Wing of the group, Hon. Apostle Oloruntoba Oke; a two-term Executive Chairman of Ifako-Ijaye Local Government of Lagos State, media manager and administrator and National Treasurer of the group, Hon. Gani Dauda; former House of Representatives member from Ondo State, Hon. Mukaila Musa; former Majority leader of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; recently elected House of Representatives member and Hon. Kola Peregrino; the Current General Manager, Lagos State Printing Corporation.
Upon Tinubu’s declaration of interest to contest the 2023 presidency, the focus immediately changed to wooing delegates, and SWAGA’23 tapped into its advantage of deep network among the Statutory delegates. However, the game changed when in a seemingly desperate attempt to pull the carpet from under Tinubu’s feet, the rule changed to having only the elected delegates vote at the primaries; thus the group dug deeper into its well of political network being a group with grassroots appeal due to its composition, and it began the arduous task of mobilizing elected delegates across all states where it has a presence. This paid off as Asiwaju himself toured the states and interacted with the delegates on a first-hand basis.
In the course of campaigning for delegates, Tinubu also took time to reach out to the traditional rulers and politicians of note across the states where SWAG A’23 had been, and he was not surprised when at each stop he was told “Your people have been here earlier to deliver your message” such was the inspiration up to the Eagle Square for the June 7th – 8th Presidential Primaries of the APC that produced Tinubu as the Candidate with a landslide victory.
Then came the ‘Muslim – Muslim Ticket’ political narratives, which became a bigger threat to the actualisation of his cherished ambition to occupy the most exalted position in Nigeria. SWAGA’23 vigorously worked to revive the popularity of its political idol through various branding strategies, wholesale sensitisation, public engagement, and campaigning across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, which dampened the morale of the President’s political enemies and earned him the “renewed hope” acceptance.
Of all the political support groups in Nigeria for the 2023 elections, SWAGA’23 had the best-coordinated media, public engagements, campaigns, and lobbying strategies and the group has not been in the news or media space for the wrong reasons. The credit goes to its leadership.
To members of the Senator Dayo Adeyeye-led SWAGA, the only reward for hard work is more work. For the self-financed pro-Tinubu group, the clincher was its “Operation Polling Booth by Polling Booth” sensitisation for the general elections, which resonated throughout the States where it operated as it permeated the grassroots.
SWAGA’23 fulfilled its mandate when it cleared the road for the political journey of its Principal to Aso Rock Villa. It has been to the nooks and crannies of Yoruba land and beyond and visited places that some even chickened out from, but for members’ passion and trust in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, they remain unwavering.
Today, Tinubu’s emergence as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has put paid to insinuation from some ‘opposition quarters that SWAGA ’23 is just busy-body cannon fodder.
It is generally believed among political watchers that the group will serve a greater purpose of being the cheerleader of this new administration, carrying the actions, developmental strides, and information from the Government to the grassroots always.
Whenever the story of Bola Tinubu’s presidency is written in the future, SWAGA’s contributions would feature prominently.
Idowu Ayodele writes from Ibadan, Oyo State
Politics
Former PDP Governorship Candidate Jandor Returns to APC

A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has officially rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jandor announced his return to the ruling party at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, approximately two weeks after resigning from the PDP.
In his address, he explained his decision, stating that APC prioritises electoral victory regardless of the candidate.
“We have decided to return to the All Progressives Congress, APC,” he declared.
Anticipating criticism over his political move, he referenced a Yoruba proverb, saying:
“Before you are quick to remind me of the reasons why I dumped APC, I want to say that there is a Yoruba adage that says, if a woman has not tried two husbands, she would not know which one is better.”
Jandor had previously left the PDP on 3rd March 2025, citing what he described as anti-party activities by some leaders in Lagos State.
“We were waiting to see if the party at the national level, governed by its constitution, would address these anti-party activities. Instead of sanctions, the same individual was appointed Vice Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee,” he said at the time.
Following his resignation from the PDP, Jandor met with several political figures, including President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as well as other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Jandor’s political journey began with the APC, where he led the Lagos4Lagos Movement before defecting in 2022. He joined the PDP ahead of the 2023 governorship election and became the party’s flagbearer in Lagos, but lost to APC’s Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Politics
El-Rufai Urges Atiku, Obi, Others to Join SDP, Rules Out Merger

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the possibility of a political merger ahead of the 2027 general election, instead urging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and other opposition figures to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai’s call came in the wake of his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on 10 March, citing a misalignment of values with the party.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, the former governor appealed to opposition leaders to unite under the SDP banner to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the next election.
“My wishes and prayers are that Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, and all opposition leaders join SDP—not to form a merger or register a new party, but to work together towards 2027,” he said.
El-Rufai also expressed his disappointment in the current administration, stating that despite initial confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, he had failed to meet expectations.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and believed in would perform well because we saw what Tinubu achieved in Lagos despite his challenges,” he remarked. “We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos at the national level, we should support him. However, he has failed.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency has dismissed speculation surrounding the 2027 elections, maintaining that President Tinubu is focused on economic reforms and national development.
In a statement on Friday via X (formerly Twitter), Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Bayo Onanuga, stated:
“President Tinubu is not worried about the next election. He is concerned about the shared prosperity he can bring to Nigerians. He is focused on ensuring that, by the end of his first term, he can look back and say, ‘I have impacted the lives of Nigerians and turned this economy around.’”
Onanuga also highlighted the administration’s achievements, including improved foreign reserves, reduced inflation, a growing trade surplus, and increased foreign investments.
Addressing speculation about his own presidential ambition in 2027, El-Rufai said his candidacy would depend on the party and the will of the people.
“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide. Even when I was contesting for governor, it was the people who met and convinced (Muhammadu) Buhari, and he called me to run,” he said.
As political alignments continue to take shape ahead of 2027, El-Rufai’s defection and his call for opposition unity signal growing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape.
Politics
I Am an APC Member, I Like to Be Addressed as One – Buhari

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his commitment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that he remains a loyal member and will continue to promote the party across the country.
Buhari made this known in a statement released on Thursday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, amid speculations of defections from the APC.
“I am an APC member, and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularise the party by all means,” the former president declared.
Without referring to any individual or ongoing political debates, Buhari reiterated his long-standing position on party loyalty, emphasizing that he would never turn his back on the APC—the platform that brought him to power for two consecutive terms from 2015 to 2023.
He expressed gratitude to the party and its supporters for the trust they placed in him, acknowledging their role in his political journey. “I have nothing but gratitude for the support that the party gave me before and during my tenure as president. That, to me, is the highest honor, and I would never ask for anything more,” he added.
Buhari further stressed the importance of preserving the party’s founding ideals, which he described as a crucial effort to safeguard democracy and uphold constitutional values. According to him, the sacrifices made by the APC’s founding fathers in building a formidable party should be appreciated and sustained.
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