Connect with us

Politics

Poor communication making APC achievements invisible, says party chair

Published

on

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has lamented that poor communication is rendering the party’s achievements invisible despite significant infrastructure projects delivered by the Bola Tinubu administration and state governments.

Yilwatda made the observation on Tuesday at the Progressive Governors’ Forum-Renewed Hope Ambassadors Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

“Good governance without communication is invisible. I’ve visited many states. I’ve seen beautiful projects, beautiful things being done, but they’re invisible and not communicated,” the APC chairman lamented.

He emphasised that effective communication is critical to translating governance achievements into political capital ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Communication without structure is noise. Politics without grassroots mobilisation is organised defeat,” Yilwatda said, explaining the rationale for establishing the Renewed Hope Ambassadors structure.

The party chairman listed major infrastructure achievements that have not received adequate publicity, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the Badagry-Sokoto Road with over 300 dams for irrigation agriculture, the Red Line rail project, and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project.

“Is it the Coastal Road or the Badagry-Sokoto Road with over 300 dams spread across the route for irrigation agriculture to boost food security in the country?

“Or the Red Line, or the AKK project, which is the biggest and most expensive project ever in the country? But have they been heard loud and clear?” he asked.

Yilwatda said Tuesday’s summit is meant to address this communication gap by ensuring that governance achievements translate to public gratitude and ultimately electoral victory.

See also  Otti’s LP bloc seeks reconciliation as court sacks Abure

“We’re here to ensure that governance translates to gratitude, gratitude by the people for the projects, and gratitude also translates to loyalty. And loyalty translates to our victory in 2027,” he stated.

He added, “When the President speaks, let the governors reimport it. When the governors deliver, let the ambassadors amplify it. When the party decides, let the members defend it.”

The chairman warned against what he called “contradictory narratives, internal sabotage, and freelance communication,” insisting that unity in messaging is strategic power for the party.

“One party means one message, no contradictory narratives, no internal sabotage, and no freelance communication. Unity is not optional. Unity is strategic power as a party,” he emphasised.

Yilwatda dismissed opposition attempts to exploit the administration’s economic reforms for political gain, saying opponents “whisper confusion where we speak in clarity.”

He argued, “The opposition always hopes that our difficult reforms will weaken us.

“They are waiting for temporary discomfort. They refuse to acknowledge the long-term benefits to this country.”

He expressed confidence that Nigerians will reward performance over rhetoric in 2027.

“In 2027, Nigerians will not vote noise. Rather, they will vote for the results they will see on the streets and across the country,” the APC chairman declared.

Yilwatda said the party has chosen “reform over rhetoric, restructuring over recycling of failure, and building the economy and making reforms over cosmetic solutions.”

He described the summit as “a defining gathering that will define our vision, our conviction, and our purpose as a political party.”

The chairman outlined the summit’s dual purpose as strengthening governance communication under the Renewed Hope agenda and laying structural foundations for victory in 2027.

See also  2027 polls: Northern youths hail Tinubu’s reforms

“Today begins the future of our party and our country. The future is not something that we await. Rather, it is something that we organise, and today is the starting point,” he stated.

The summit, themed “Taking Renewed Hope to the Grassroots: One Party, One Message, One Mobilisation Framework,” brought together Renewed Hope Ambassadors from the 36 states and the FCT, zonal coordinators, and members of the Federal Executive Council.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Director-General of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, delivered the welcome address.

Vice President Kashim Shettima presented the Renewed Hope Compendium, while Tinubu gave the keynote address and officially opened the summit.

According to the programme, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative is a grassroots mobilisation structure designed to communicate the administration’s achievements and build support ahead of the 2027 elections.

Zonal coordinators appointed include Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (South-East), Senator Tanko Al-Makura (North Central), Isa Yuguda (North East), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (South-South), Senator Adedayo Adeyeye (South-West), and Aminu Masari (North-West).

The management team comprises Senator Uba Sani of Kaduna State as Deputy Director-General, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as Secretary, and James Faleke as Assistant Secretary.

The summit featured technical sessions, panel discussions, and a commitment ceremony aimed at aligning party structures for the 2027 electoral contest.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

INEC records over three million in second phase of voter registration

Published

on

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has recorded a total of 3, 441,121 completed registrations in the ongoing second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

According to the week 13 update released by the commission on Wednesday in Abuja, the figure comprises both online pre-registrations and physical walk-ins at various centres nationwide as of April 3.

The data revealed that 2,068,384 citizens completed their pre-registration online, while 1,372,737 voters opted for physical registration.

It also showed Jigawa leading with 201,047 representing 5.84 per cent of the total registrations; followed by Lagos with 181,095, while Kano State ranked third with 177,681.

The update further showed that participation of youths between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for 2,354,768, representing 68.43 per cent of the new registrants.

In terms of gender distribution, females accounted for 1,922,143, representing 55.86 percent of the total new voter registrants, while males accounted for 1,518,978, representing 44.14 per cent.

The occupational distribution also showed that students represented the largest single block of new voters at 1,235,931 (35.92 percent), followed by those in business at 701,912 (20.40 percent), and farming/fishing at 615,967 (18.28 percent).

The data further showed that 48,330 of the new registrants were Persons with Disabilities.

The commission explained that the 3,441,121 figure was a preliminary figure pending data clean-up during the period for citizens’ claims and objections, followed by the deployment of the Automated Biometric Identification System.

The commission emphasised that registration remained suspended in the Federal Capital Territory in compliance with Section 9 (6) of the Electoral Act 2022, following the Area Council Election held on Feb. 21.

See also  Otti’s LP bloc seeks reconciliation as court sacks Abure

It, however, advised eligible Nigerians who were yet to register to visit the official portals at https://cvr.inec.gov.ng or https://cvr.inecnigeria.org to do so.

NAN

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

Continue Reading

Politics

#OccupyINEC: Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, others join ADC rally over INEC decisions

Published

on

Leaders and members of the African Democratic Congress joined a large demonstration in Abuja on Wednesday, protesting decisions by the Independent National Electoral Commission that they said undermined democracy and the party’s internal leadership.

The protest, tagged #OccupyINEC, drew former presidential candidates and prominent politicians, including Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, and Dino Melaye, to Maitama Roundabout. Among others, hundreds of Kwankwasiyya members also participated.

Rotimi Amaechi at the protest. Photo credit: ADC

The demonstration saw participants singing Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots!”, despite the fact that it was replaced on May 29, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu with the country’s 1960 independence anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

Rotimi Amaechi and Dino Melaye at the protest.

The ADC further confirmed that the act was done “in an act of defiance.”

Several demonstrators also held placards supporting Senator David Mark, including ones that read, “In David Mark’s NWC we trust.”

Placard held by protesters.

Addressing the protest, former presidential candidate Peter Obi spoke on behalf of ADC members and other opposition leaders, urging Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy.

He said on X: “We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed.

“We say NO to a one-party system, and for that, today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”

Some protesters. Photo credit: ADC

The protest follows INEC’s recent decision to no longer accept correspondence from either faction of the ADC led by Senator David Mark or Nafiu Bala, after a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute. ADC and other opposition groups described the move as a restriction on party autonomy and an interference with internal party affairs.

See also  Rivers APC rejects Fubara’s impeachment

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko,  had earlier told The PUNCH the demonstration aimed to mobilise Nigerians in defence of democracy.

“This commission is now becoming the arbiter, judge, accuser and defender at the same time. Our major issue is the manner in which INEC has been going about creating disaffection in the opposition.

“The people are really angry and plan to show this anger by coming out. So, we’ll expect them to come out en masse for a peaceful rally. Then we’ll just demonstrate and protest,” he said.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

Continue Reading

Politics

New ADC faction emerges, rejects David Mark-led coalition

Published

on

A new faction within the African Democratic Congress has surfaced, rejecting the authority of the Senator David Mark-led coalition and distancing itself from Nafiu Bala’s faction.

According to Africa Independent Television, the faction led by Don Norman Obinna claims to represent the legitimate National Executive Committee of the party.

The group says it is stepping in to manage the party’s affairs ahead of the next national convention.

At a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the group stated that “The tenure of Ralph Nwosu, who handed the party to the David Mark group, had ended in August 2022, and afterwards, he (Nwosu) had faced a series of litigations due to his failure to step down.”

The faction also clarified the status of Nafiu Bala, noting that he “never held the position of National Vice Chairman,” and affirmed that former ADC presidential candidate “Dumebi Kachikwu is still a member of ADC”

The group further disclosed that new interim leaders have been appointed to oversee party activities, ensuring continuity until the national convention is held.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

See also  2027: Atiku, Fayose clash over Makinde’s Minna visit
Continue Reading

Trending