The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on political leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritise grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than following President Bola Tinubu around during nationwide campaigns.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, made the appeal in a statement issued to journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Wednesday.
He advised political stakeholders to concentrate their efforts on mobilising voters in their respective wards, local government areas and states to strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.
The senator suggested that President Tinubu should attend campaign rallies with a relatively small delegation, while other party leaders return to their constituencies to engage voters and canvass support for the APC.
According to him, effective grassroots engagement would contribute more to the party’s electoral success than having large numbers of political office holders and supporters accompany the President during campaign activities.
Reacting to Kalu’s position, an APC chieftain in Ebonyi State, Chief Abia Onyike, described the suggestion as appropriate, arguing that political leaders should independently engage voters and communicate the party’s policies, programmes and manifesto.
Onyike, a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ebonyi State, also criticised the practice of moving around with rented crowds during political campaigns, insisting that genuine voter engagement should take priority over appearances.
He maintained that political leaders must demonstrate their individual commitment to the party by actively presenting its programmes and building relationships with constituents.
Similarly, a labour leader and former President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ebonyi State, Mr Leo Nkah, supported the call for increased grassroots participation.
Nkah observed that some political leaders who follow presidential or gubernatorial candidates during campaigns often neglect their responsibilities to mobilise voters within their respective political constituencies.
He argued that political leaders should not mistake their physical presence at presidential campaign rallies for genuine electoral support, stressing the importance of direct engagement with voters at the grassroots.
The comments have renewed conversations about campaign strategies, grassroots political participation and the role of party stakeholders in strengthening the APC’s electoral chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
