Governor of Imo State and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Hope Uzodimma, alongside Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday called for cohesion in purpose, messaging, and mobilisation within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
They made the appeal at the South-South Strategic Communications and Mobilisation Summit, themed “One Party, One Message, One Mobilisation,” held at the Government House in Asaba.
The summit focused on strengthening coordinated communication and deepening grassroots engagement to support ongoing national reforms.
The event convened party leaders and stakeholders, including Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, to harmonise communication strategies and consolidate support for the APC across the region.
In his address, Uzodimma disclosed that the summit produced a comprehensive national work plan detailing timelines, assigned responsibilities, and measurable deliverables aimed at advancing economic growth and national development.
He described the framework as both the “compass and spine” guiding Renewed Hope Ambassadors nationwide.
He acknowledged improvements in key macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP growth, increased oil production, and enhanced revenue allocation, but noted a disconnect between these gains and the lived experiences of citizens at the grassroots level.
According to him, bridging that perception gap requires translating government policies into accessible language and engaging communities directly.
Uzodimma emphasised that reforms, including subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, may impose short-term hardship but are necessary to address entrenched structural weaknesses in the economy.
He urged ambassadors to adopt a conversational and data-driven approach, prioritising transparency, active listening, and factual rebuttals to misinformation.
Oborevwori, who hosted the summit, described the gathering as a strategic intervention to reinforce party structures and intensify grassroots mobilisation across the South-South.
He warned that fragmented communication would undermine political effectiveness and create openings for opposition forces.
“Unity must translate into action,” he said, urging stakeholders to take the party’s message directly to communities, defend reform policies, and convert support into electoral success.
Former Delta State Governor and South-South Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Ifeanyi Okowa, stated that the summit was designed to equip participants with practical tools for communicating the administration’s reform agenda.
Okowa explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conceived to confront long-standing fiscal and socio-economic challenges, including weak public finance structures, unemployment, and low investor confidence.
He cited improvements in foreign reserves, oil production, healthcare access, education reforms, and infrastructure development as evidence of progress, while conceding that insufficient public communication has limited broader appreciation of these achievements.
He urged ambassadors to engage citizens in markets, communities, and institutions using clear, relatable examples backed by verifiable data.
Chairman of the occasion and South-West Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Adedayo Adeyeye, described the South-South as Nigeria’s economic backbone and expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the 2027 general elections.
He characterised the region as pivotal to the country’s political trajectory, noting what he described as growing alignment with the party’s leadership and policies.
Participants were encouraged to replicate the summit’s strategies across states and local government areas, with a focus on measurable outcomes, sustained engagement, and disciplined, unified messaging.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Delta State Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme; APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru; National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka; APC Deputy National Chairman (South) Emmanuel Eneukwu; South-South Chairman Victor Giadom; Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas; and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, alongside members of the National and State Assemblies from the region.
The summit closed with a renewed emphasis on commitment, discipline, and coordinated action, as party leaders maintained that the success of ongoing reforms and future electoral victories would hinge on effective communication, grassroots mobilisation, and sustained public engagement.
