A coalition of presidential campaign council support groups in Oyo State has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to recognize and re-engage grassroots support groups that mobilized for the President during the 2023 presidential election. The coalition, led by Hon. Yemi Akinwale 'JP' (Havana), made the appeal in Ibadan, stating that its structures across the state remain available to support government policies and programs. The group expressed concern that many coordinators and support groups have not been adequately engaged or recognized two years after the election.
The coalition said its members mobilized across Oyo State's 33 local government areas, 351 wards, and 6,390 polling units during the 2023 presidential election to campaign for Tinubu and the APC. Akinwale emphasized that the coalition is not seeking confrontation but a structured relationship that would allow grassroots mobilizers to contribute to governance beyond election periods. The group believes its structures can be deployed to explain government policies, communicate programs, and provide feedback from communities to authorities.
Akinwale stated that the support groups should not be regarded solely as election-time organizations, as their members maintain relationships within communities and understand issues affecting people at the grassroots. He said the structures could assist the government in communicating its policies and programs, correcting misinformation, and providing feedback from communities. The coalition urged the Presidency and APC leadership to establish a framework for engaging support groups to strengthen communication and grassroots participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coalition appealed to Tinubu, the APC national leadership, and relevant federal authorities to create mechanisms for the inclusion of Oyo support groups in federal appointments, boards, empowerment programs, palliative distribution, and policy communication. The group requested a formal meeting with Tinubu or a designated authority to present a proposed roadmap for using its structures for grassroots engagement. This arrangement would enable members to communicate the administration's achievements, address misinformation, and provide feedback from citizens.
The coalition announced plans to re-energize its structures across wards and local governments, including door-to-door sensitization on the policies and programs of the Tinubu administration. It reaffirmed its loyalty to Tinubu, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the APC, stressing that its request for inclusion is not an assertion of entitlement. Akinwale said members who have demonstrated commitment and possess the requisite capacity should be considered for opportunities.
The coalition commended the Tinubu administration's reform initiatives, citing foreign exchange reforms, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative. It also praised the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady for interventions targeting women, youths, and vulnerable Nigerians. However, the coalition noted that the reported lack of engagement with grassroots support groups has affected the morale of some members and weakened structures that could assist in communicating government programs.
Looking ahead to 2027, the coalition declared its readiness to support Tinubu's campaign, saying it has the capacity to mobilize across the state if adequately engaged and supported. The group described its intervention as a call for partnership rather than opposition, insisting that it remains committed to Nigeria, Oyo State, the APC, and the Renewed Hope administration. The coalition's structures remain spread across the state's 33 local government areas, 351 wards, and 6,390 polling units, stressing that proper coordination and engagement could strengthen communication between the government and citizens.
Key points
- The coalition seeks recognition, inclusion, and engagement with the Presidency and APC leadership.
- The group has structures across Oyo State's 33 local government areas, 351 wards, and 6,390 polling units.
- The coalition commended the Tinubu administration's reform initiatives and the First Lady's Renewed Hope Initiative.
