Gbolahan Gbadamosi, leader of the Lagos State APC PBAT-KOH Campaign Sub-Committee: Diaspora, and Dr. Kayode Opeifa, MD/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, have launched a diaspora engagement initiative in the United Kingdom. The campaign aims to mobilize Nigerians abroad to encourage their wards, families, and associates back home to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections. This effort is part of the ongoing engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora around the political agenda of the Lagos State APC PBAT-KOH Campaign.
The campaign engagement, which took place in the UK, brought together prominent APC leaders and public officials. They included the APC UK Chairman, Hon. Tunde Doherty; Chairman of the Lagos APC UK Chapter, Hon. Tayo Shodiende; Comrade Dr. Kayode Opeifa; Hon. Dr. Femi Adekanmbi, MD/CEO of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority; and Dr. Olusola Odusanya, Director-General/CEO of the National Centre for Technology Management. The gathering discussed ways Nigerians in the diaspora can strengthen connections with their communities at home and raise awareness of electoral responsibilities.
During the engagement, participants emphasized the importance of PVC collection and voter awareness. They urged diaspora Nigerians to speak with their children, relatives, friends, and other eligible voters in Nigeria, encouraging them to ensure they are registered to vote and collect their PVCs in accordance with INEC guidelines. The appeal underscored the significance of the PVC as a key requirement for eligible registered voters to exercise their franchise in Nigeria’s elections.
The campaign message also sought to canvass support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the political agenda associated with the Lagos State APC PBAT-KOH Campaign. The campaign is advocating support for the President’s re-election bid and Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s political emergence ahead of 2027. Gbadamosi’s diaspora mobilisation initiative reflects the campaign’s efforts to maintain contact with Nigerians abroad and encourage constructive engagement with political developments in Nigeria.
The presence of APC leaders and senior public officials at the gathering highlighted the participation of party stakeholders and government representatives in discussions on political engagement, community relations, and the role of Nigerians abroad in the country’s democratic process. Through interactions with community leaders, party stakeholders, and Nigerians in the UK, the initiative seeks to strengthen communication between diaspora communities and their counterparts at home.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, the campaign has emphasized the importance of civic awareness and encouraging eligible voters to take necessary steps to participate in the electoral process. The UK engagement combined diaspora outreach with a call for increased voter awareness, urging Nigerians abroad to encourage their wards and communities back home to collect their PVCs and remain informed about the electoral process.
The engagement provided an opportunity for Nigerians in the diaspora to discuss how they can contribute to the democratic process in Nigeria. By leveraging their family and community networks, diaspora members can promote awareness of voter registration, PVC collection, and participation in the democratic process. This initiative is a significant step towards ensuring that eligible voters in Nigeria are registered and exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections.
Key points
- Gbadamosi and Opeifa led a campaign in the UK to mobilize diasporans to encourage their wards to collect PVCs ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The campaign emphasized the importance of PVC collection and voter awareness among Nigerians in the diaspora.
- The initiative seeks to strengthen communication between diaspora communities and their counterparts at home, promoting civic awareness and participation in the democratic process.
