The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (BTO), has been identified as a major force behind the massive turnout recorded at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held on November 11, 2026, at the Akure Township Stadium, Ondo State.
The rally, which attracted party leaders, political officeholders, candidates and supporters from across the state, witnessed an impressive turnout, with the stadium filled to capacity and many party faithful reportedly unable to gain access to the venue.
In an assessment of the rally, Ondo State Youths for Tinubu 2027 attributed the impressive mobilisation to the strategic political calculations, grassroots engagement and extensive support structures associated with BTO.
The group noted that Tunji-Ojo had consistently expressed confidence in Ondo State’s capacity to improve on the 67 per cent votes recorded for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
According to the group, the minister’s mobilisation strategy was designed not only to consolidate the APC’s existing support base but also to attract new members and expand the party’s political influence across the state.
It explained that BTO had established several political platforms and support groups, including AMG, GMT, PBAT, PSF, PMF, Grow With BTO, TNT and BTO Ambassadors, among others, to strengthen grassroots participation and political mobilisation.
The group further observed that the structures had provided opportunities for people with different political interests, including some dissatisfied with the state government’s administration, to participate in APC activities through alternative platforms.
Beyond political mobilisation, the group highlighted BTO’s empowerment initiatives and community-based interventions, particularly the Ondo Connect programme, led by Ireti, as additional strategies for strengthening relationships with communities across the state.
It maintained that the combination of grassroots mobilisation, empowerment and sustained community engagement had helped build an extensive support network for the minister ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The group also pointed to the conspicuous presence of BTO supporters at the Akure rally, particularly those dressed in distinctive green caps and gele, describing their appearance as a visible demonstration of the strength and identity of his political structures. It added that the green colour became a prominent feature of the rally, with some VIPs reportedly receiving green campaign caps following information about the planned appearance of BTO’s supporters in the colour.
While acknowledging the importance of the state government’s role in coordinating party activities, Ondo State Youths for Tinubu 2027 said the rally had generated discussions about grassroots engagement, political organisation and the respective contributions of key stakeholders to the APC’s mobilisation efforts.
The group noted that the repeated chants of “BTO! BTO!! BTO!!!” across the stadium reflected the enthusiasm of his supporters and their recognition of the political structures and relationships associated with his leadership.
It stressed that the Akure rally should be assessed beyond the impressive crowd, arguing that the political networks, strategic alliances and grassroots structures that facilitated the mobilisation deserved recognition.
The group concluded that BTO’s contribution to the rally demonstrated the importance of strategic leadership, political inclusiveness and sustained grassroots engagement in building a formidable political organisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
It added that the minister’s mobilisation efforts would remain an important factor in the APC’s determination to secure a stronger electoral performance for President Tinubu in Ondo State.