By Ovasa Ogaga,
Governors Hope Uzodimma and Sheriff Oborevwori, alongside former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday led a high-level push for unified messaging and intensified grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that cohesion within the All Progressives Congress (APC) is critical to electoral success.
The leaders made the call at the South-South Strategic Communications and Mobilisation Summit themed “One Party, One Message, One Mobilisation,” held at Government House, Asaba, where party stakeholders converged to strengthen communication strategies and deepen support for the ruling party.
Speaking at the summit, Uzodimma, who is also Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, disclosed that participants adopted a comprehensive national work plan with clear timelines and deliverables aimed at driving economic growth and national development. He described the plan as the “compass and spine” for mobilisers across the country.
The Imo governor noted that despite improvements in key economic indicators, including GDP growth and increased oil production, many citizens at the grassroots level had yet to feel the impact. He charged party ambassadors to bridge the gap by simplifying government policies and engaging directly with the people.
“You are the bridge between government performance and public understanding. You must take the message to the people and explain reforms in ways they understand,” Uzodimma said, while acknowledging that policies such as subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments have created temporary hardships but remain necessary for long-term stability.
Host governor, Oborevwori, described the summit as a strategic platform to consolidate party strength in the South-South, warning that disjointed messaging could undermine the APC’s chances.
“Unity must be matched with action. We must take the message to the grassroots, defend our reforms, and mobilise effectively for victory,” he said.
In his remarks, Okowa said the summit was designed to equip participants with tools to communicate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reform agenda effectively, noting that poor communication has limited public appreciation of government achievements.
He highlighted gains in foreign reserves, oil production, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Still, he stressed the need for sustained engagement with citizens in markets, communities, and institutions to counter misinformation and opposition narratives.
Also speaking, South-West Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Adedayo Adeyeye, described the South-South as Nigeria’s economic backbone, expressing confidence that the APC would secure victory in 2027 with coordinated mobilisation.
The summit attracted key party figures, including Mai Mala Buni, Monday Onyeme, Ajibola Basiru, Felix Morka, Emmanuel Eneukwu, and Victor Giadom, among others.
Participants were urged to replicate the summit’s strategies across states and local governments, with emphasis on disciplined messaging, measurable actions, and sustained grassroots engagement, as party leaders insisted that the success of ongoing reforms—and victory in 2027—would depend on effective communication and unity.
