…forum Pledges To Mobilise 4,000 APGA Members Into APC Ahead Of Polls
UMUAHIA — As political realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, grassroots mobilisation is intensifying across Abia State with community-based organisations building structures to influence voter participation and electoral outcomes.
In line with that drive, more than 100 residents drawn from Okaiuga in Ohuhu, Umuahia North Local Government Area, have been inaugurated into the Abia Good Governance Forum, AGGF, in a move designed to deepen grassroots participation and expand the forum’s political mobilisation network.
The newly inaugurated members pledged to safeguard their polling units during the 2027 elections and expressed commitment to work for the election of Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji as member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Chief Eric Opah as Governor of Abia State, and the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Grassroots Expansion
Addressing the gathering, Founder of AGGF, Dr. Charles Ukeagu, said the organisation already has structures across the 17 local government areas of Abia but is embarking on a fresh phase of expansion to deepen its presence throughout Ohuhuland.
He said the inauguration marked the beginning of a wider campaign that would extend from the 19 communities in Okaiuga to other communities in Ohuhu and subsequently across Umuahia.
Ukeagu also disclosed plans to bring more than 4,000 members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance from the Ikwuano/Umuahia axis into the movement, adding that they would later join the City Boys Movement in furtherance of the political objectives of the All Progressives Congress.
Reflecting on his political journey, he recalled serving as Director of Strategy and Planning for Professor Gregory Ibe during the 2023 Abia governorship election. He said his commitment remains centred on initiatives that improve the welfare of the people, citing his annual December football tournament and a proposed football academy in Ohuhuland whose certification process is already in progress.
He charged the newly inaugurated coordinators, made up of five representatives from each community, to embark on extensive membership drives and serve as grassroots ambassadors to strengthen the forum’s reach ahead of 2027.
Call For Issue-Based Politics
Ukeagu urged members to embrace issue-based politics and cautioned against compromise and hypocrisy. He insisted that the 2027 elections should be determined by competence, performance and the capacity to deliver quality representation.
On representation in Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, he expressed disappointment with the performance of the incumbent lawmaker, stating that the constituency had not received the level of representation many anticipated after the 2023 election. He argued that electoral choices should be guided by measurable performance rather than ethnic sentiment.
He recalled projects and interventions he attributed to Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji during his tenure as Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, saying those achievements, coupled with Orji’s accessibility and understanding of the developmental needs of Ohuhuland, informed the forum’s decision to support his aspiration for the House of Representatives.
Endorsement Of Tinubu, Opah
Turning to the national landscape, Ukeagu gave an appraisal of the administration of President Tinubu, describing him as a courageous and visionary leader who has demonstrated political will in confronting Nigeria’s structural challenges. He said while some reforms initially attracted criticism due to their immediate economic impact, they were designed to reposition the nation for long-term stability and growth.
He maintained that the President has strengthened democratic institutions, expanded infrastructure, promoted economic diversification and sustained efforts to improve national security. He appealed to members to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election, describing a second term as essential for consolidating ongoing reforms.
On the Abia governorship contest, Ukeagu lauded Chief Eric Opah as a seasoned administrator and grassroots-oriented leader with the capacity to provide purposeful governance. He said Opah possesses the competence and vision required to unlock Abia’s economic potential and accelerate development across infrastructure, agriculture and human capital.
Ukeagu, who is also Organising Secretary of the City Boys Movement in Abia, said AGGF would work in close coordination with the movement and reiterated that the forum’s support remains with the APC. He urged members to deliver overwhelming votes for President Tinubu, Chief Opah and Rt. Hon. Orji in 2027.
Speaking on behalf of the new members, Mr. Hart Agwu pledged to strengthen the forum across Ohuhuland and mobilise support for candidates capable of providing effective and responsive leadership. Members also unanimously declared that the forum’s objective is to unite Ohuhuland behind a common political vision ahead of 2027.
