Scores of artisans in Ondo State have declared their ‘total and massive support’ for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
The artisans, under the aegis of the United Artisan Group, also pledged to mobilise more than 700,000 votes for the President across the state’s 18 local government areas.
The artisan group made the declaration during a mobilisation programme held on Thursday in Akure, where it launched its grassroots campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.
The artisans said they have deployed their networks across the state to mobilise members and other eligible voters in support of President Tinubu.
The Nation reported that the group’s mobilisation drive received a boost with the presentation of a brand-new vehicle by the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), a political support group backed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The vehicle, according to the organisers, is expected to help the artisans travel and strengthen their grassroots mobilisation activities across the state.
Speaking at the event, the leader of the United Artisan Group, Pastor Niran Ale, said the artisans had resolved to actively participate in the political process and mobilise their members ahead of the presidential election.
Ale said the group had structures across the state and would use them to reach artisans in various communities, wards and local government areas.
‘We are artisans, and we are everywhere. We have our members in all the local government areas and wards of Ondo State.
‘We are declaring our total and massive support for President Tinubu, and we are committed to mobilising over 700,000 votes for him in Ondo State,’ he said.
Ale added that the decision to endorse President Tinubu followed the need for artisans to play a more active role in determining the country’s political leadership.
Also speaking, the group’s Secretary, Gbenga Sobande, lauded the Tinubu administration for the opportunities and interventions available to artisans.
Sobande said the group was particularly interested in programmes related to training, empowerment and the development of the informal sector.
He explained that all members had also obtained their Permanent Voter Cards to participate in the 2027 general election, especially by voting for the incumbent President to ensure continuity in government.
A former Chairperson of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the State, Comrade Bosede Daramola, said the group was encouraged by government attention to artisans and called for sustained engagement with the sector.
The Director-General of AMG in the State, Asiwaju Muyiwa Asagunla, who received the artisans, remarked that he appreciated the group for recognising opportunities created through the platform associated with Dr Tunji-Ojo.
Asagunla said the vehicle presentation was part of efforts to strengthen grassroots structures and ensure effective coordination of mobilisation activities across the state.
He added that growing support from different professional and community groups would strengthen AMG’s grassroots mobilisation structure across the state’s 18 LGAs.
According to him, the organisation’s previously announced ‘one-million-vote project’ for President Tinubu would also receive further impetus from the latest development.
He urged the artisans, however, to take the campaign to their respective communities and sustain engagement with their members ahead of the election.
Leaders and representatives of artisan associations across Ondo State, as well as supporters of the Tinubu administration, attended the event.