By Aderonke Ojediran
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday converged on the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, Onikan, for interfaith prayers ahead of its electioneering.
The party members prayed for re-election of President Bola Tinubu and election of Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos Deputy Governor and APC Governorship Candidate for the state.
They also prayed for Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as well as other candidates of the party, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC members offered prayers for the success of the party at all levels of elections and peaceful conduct of the general elections.
The prayer session was also attended by religious leaders and other stakeholders.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that governorship election campaigns will begin on Wednesday, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Sanwo-Olu, who led members of the state executive council to the event, emphasised the importance of prayers to the success of every ambition.
He expressed optimism that the APC would emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections.
The governor said that prayers remained an important foundation for the party as it prepared for another electoral contest.
He urged APC members to remain united and committed to the ideals of the party.
“Prayer is important in every ambition that we pursue in life. We have come together as a family to commit our aspirations and the forthcoming elections into the hands of God.
“We are confident that with our unity, hard work and the grace of God, the APC will achieve victory at all levels and continue to deliver good governance to the people,” he said.
Also, Hamzat said the interfaith prayer was organised to herald the commencement of the party’s election campaign in the state.
He added that it was to seek divine intervention for peaceful electioneering.
Hamzat called on political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns responsibly and ensure that the electoral process would be devoid of violence, bloodshed and any acts capable of threatening peace.
“Today’s prayer is significant because we are about to commence our campaign activities.
“We want to begin by committing the entire process into the hands of God.
“We are praying for a peaceful electioneering season, without bloodshed, violence or rancour.
“Elections should be about ideas, programmes and opportunity for the people to choose their leaders freely,” Hamzat said.
The governorship candidate promised that another APC administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of Lagos residents.
The Director-General of the Hamzat Campaign Organisation, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, urged APC faithful to be steadfast in prayers and committed to the electioneering.
Obanikoro said that continuity of government policies and programmes would be essential to achieving rapid and sustainable development in Lagos and the entire Nigeria.
“We must remain steadfast in prayers and continue to work together as one family until victory is achieved for all our candidates.
“The progress recorded in Lagos and the entire country must be sustained and built upon for the benefit of the people,” he said.
The Muslim, Christian and traditional religious leaders at the event offered prayers for good health and continued success for Tinubu, urging him to remain focused on his Renewed Hope reforms.
They also prayed God to grant Hamzat and other APC candidates victory and wisdom to place the welfare and interests of the people above personal considerations.
The religious leaders called on political parties and their supporters to embrace peace, tolerance and issue-based campaigns throughout the electioneering period.
The event also featured prayers for Lagos State and the entire Nigeria.(NAN)
========
