Yilwatda made the call during a grand rally organised by the North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network at Lafia Square in Nasarawa State, hosted by Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The rally also featured the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who led a delegation of women from the six states in the North Central region.

In his remarks, the APC chairman commended the organisers for their mobilisation efforts and acknowledged the contributions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Governor Sule, party leaders and other stakeholders to the success of the gathering.

Yilwatda said the Tinubu administration deserved another four-year term to consolidate its reforms, strengthen the economy, expand infrastructure and advance sustainable development.

He also maintained that the North Central region had reasons to sustain its engagement with the Federal Government, citing what he described as the administration’s commitment to the region.

As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, the APC chairman urged governors, party leaders, traditional rulers, women, youths and grassroots organisers to take the message of the Renewed Hope Agenda to communities across the region.

He stressed that sustained engagement with voters at the ward and polling-unit levels would be important to the party’s mobilisation strategy.

Yilwatda said the rally sent a message of readiness among APC supporters in the North Central to mobilise behind Tinubu, Shettima and other party candidates in the next general elections.

The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, made the call yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, at the bank’s stakeholders’ fair on alternative payment channels.

Represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Hakama Sidi-Ali, Cardoso said the expansion of digital payments was necessary to deepen access to financial services and support economic growth.

He said the reforms being implemented by the bank, including PSV 2028, were designed to create a financial system that is more efficient and accessible to Nigerians.

Cardoso noted that the growth of agent banking, Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals, mobile money, QR payments, internet banking and instant payment platforms had helped expand financial inclusion.

However, the CBN Branch Controller in Lafia, Njideka Nwabukwu, said the gains would need to be extended to rural and underserved communities through increased investment in digital payment infrastructure.

She pointed to poor digital and financial literacy, cybersecurity concerns and inadequate consumer protection as major factors restricting wider adoption of digital payment services.

Nwabukwu said the 95 percent inclusion target could only be achieved through a collective effort involving banks, payment service providers, businesses, government agencies and consumers.

She also encouraged traders and entrepreneurs to make greater use of digital payment platforms, saying this would help more individuals and businesses participate in the formal financial system.

The CBN said expanding access and encouraging wider use of digital payment channels remained critical to strengthening financial inclusion while supporting monetary, price and financial system stability.