Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and other political stakeholders have called on All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to prioritise grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that building voter support at the ward, local government and state levels is more effective than following President Bola Tinubu around during campaign rallies.

Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, advocated a leaner presidential campaign entourage, urging political leaders to return to their respective constituencies and mobilise voters for the APC.

The former Abia State governor made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Wednesday.

He maintained that Tinubu should attend campaign rallies with a small team, while other party leaders concentrate on engaging voters in their communities.

“The president should be allowed to attend campaign rallies without an unnecessarily large number of people following him in the campaign train.

“Instead, they should return to their respective states and work at the grassroots level to mobilise support and deliver victory to the APC.

“Let Tinubu move with a small team; the rest of the leaders should stay back and talk to voters where they live,” Kalu said.

Backing Kalu’s position, an APC chieftain in Ebonyi State, Chief Abia Onyike, described the proposal as appropriate, insisting that political leaders should independently engage voters rather than depend on their presence at presidential rallies to demonstrate loyalty.

Onyike, a former Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and Orientation, called for an end to the practice of moving around with rented crowds, urging politicians to sell their manifestoes, policies and programmes directly to the electorate.

“Leaders should be seen standing independently to speak to the people and engage them in important conversations, selling their manifestoes and programmes.

“The culture of moving about with rented crowds should be jettisoned; it does not add to the credibility of a leader. People should be original,” he said.

Similarly, former President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ebonyi State, Mr Leo Nkah, urged politicians to take responsibility for mobilising voters within their respective areas of influence.

Nkah argued that political leaders who abandon their constituencies to follow presidential or gubernatorial candidates during campaigns could undermine the electoral fortunes of their preferred candidates.

He noted that some politicians mistake their physical presence at campaign rallies for genuine political support, while neglecting the crucial task of securing votes at the grassroots.

“They want the president or governor, as the case may be, to see their presence as support; this is erroneous,” he said.

The three stakeholders emphasised the need for stronger grassroots engagement, independent voter mobilisation and direct interaction between political leaders and the electorate as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Former Obidient Movement Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, has formally shifted political allegiance to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), emerging as the National Coordinator of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council in a major political development ahead of the next general election.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appointed Yunusa Tanko, former national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, as the National Coordinator of its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

Tanko’s appointment was unveiled on Wednesday during the inauguration of the SDP Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, signalling a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

The appointment was also confirmed by Mark Adebayo, Chief Media and Communication Adviser to the Adebayo/Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council, in a confirmation to TheCable.

Speaking after his appointment, Tanko pledged total commitment to the presidential ambition of the SDP candidate, Adewale Adebayo, and his running mate, Usman Bugaje, declaring his readiness to mobilise support for the party’s victory in 2027.

Describing the SDP as a left-wing, people-oriented political platform, Tanko said the party represents the interests of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those neglected by the political establishment.

Tanko also disclosed that he resigned as Political Adviser (North) to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), on October 30, following his appointment to the leadership of the National Consultative Front (NCFront).

His emergence in the SDP campaign structure followed his elevation within the NCFront after the death of its former Co-Chairman and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba.

The former Obidient Movement coordinator said he had formally reached out to Obi and the NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, acknowledging their support and cooperation during his time leading the movement.

He, however, expressed determination to work with the NCFront leadership and the SDP presidential campaign team, citing his longstanding relationship with Adebayo, which he said dates back to 2023.

Tanko reaffirmed his commitment to good governance, justice, equity, national unity and the pursuit of a prosperous Nigeria.

His appointment marks a fresh chapter in his political journey, having played a prominent role in Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign as spokesperson before Obi appointed him National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement in September 2024.

Tanko, who contested the 2019 presidential election under the platform of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), also served as the party’s National Chairman in 2023.

His defection to the SDP campaign structure adds another dimension to the emerging political alignments and realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has set a 1.2 million-vote target for Ondo State ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, challenging the state’s electorate to deliver a massive victory for President Bola Tinubu.

Shettima gave the challenge on Wednesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held at the Township Stadium in Akure, where he represented Tinubu.

He said Ondo had the electoral strength to achieve the target, pointing out that 1.8 million of the state’s 2.1 million registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“It is our expectation that Ondo should be able to deliver 1.2 million votes out of the 1.8 million PVCs collected so far,” he declared.

The Vice-President also took aim at opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), questioning their political influence and capacity to challenge Tinubu.

Shettima described the massive turnout at the Akure rally as proof of the APC’s grassroots strength, mocking opposition parties for what he called their dependence on social media for political mobilisation.

“Looking at the rally today in Ondo, it is shut down. Our political opponents are conducting rallies on Instagram and Facebook,” he said.

He further questioned Atiku’s political standing in Adamawa State, alleging that the former Vice-President lacked the support of influential political leaders in his home state.

Shettima also challenged Obi’s political influence in Anambra, arguing that the former governor did not enjoy the backing of prominent political figures from the state.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pledged that the state would deliver at least one million votes for Tinubu, citing the benefits of the President’s administration and the appointment of three ministers and other prominent public office holders from the state.

Director-General of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Abdullaziz Yari, however, insisted that Ondo should surpass the governor’s one-million-vote commitment, urging APC leaders to put aside personal differences and work towards a decisive victory.

Similarly, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, called on eligible voters yet to collect their PVCs to do so, stressing that effective voter mobilisation would be critical to achieving the party’s electoral target.

Uzodimma also appealed to aggrieved APC factions to reconcile and close ranks, warning against internal divisions that could weaken the party’s chances in 2027.