2027: APC Governors Set to Begin Campaign Activities Soon After Tinubu’s Return — Uzodimma

APC governors are expected to begin their campaign engagements soon after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returns from his working leave.

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, disclosed this on Sunday after meeting with President Tinubu at his Lagos residence.

Uzodimma said the meeting provided an opportunity to update the President on developments across the country during his absence, as well as the activities of APC governors.

According to him, discussions also focused on efforts by the Progressive Governors Forum to communicate the achievements and policies of the Tinubu administration to Nigerians ahead of the party’s political mobilisation.

“The President has just come back from a working leave. While he was away, we were working in Nigeria. It was therefore necessary to brief him on developments in the country and give him an interim report on the situation on the ground.

“I came and briefed him. We had a very productive conversation, and he is now aware of what happened while he was away and the efforts of the Progressive Governors Forum to ensure that Nigerians understand the achievements of his government and its policies.

“We also discussed our campaign activities, which will begin almost immediately now that he is back. It was a very productive meeting with Mr President,” Uzodimma said.

Governors to Focus on Impact of Reforms

Uzodimma said APC governors had taken direction from President Tinubu’s recent national broadcast and would now focus more on ensuring that Nigerians experience the practical benefits of the Federal Government’s economic reforms.

He explained that the reform programme had progressed beyond policy implementation and should now produce measurable improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.

“We have already taken our cue from that broadcast, and that is exactly what we are doing. The reform policy has moved from implementation to ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the dividends of the reform policy,” he said.

The PGF chairman pointed to the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses as one of the initiatives expected to reduce transportation costs.

He said lower operating costs should ultimately translate into cheaper fares for commuters and urged transport operators to pass the savings on to passengers.

“The transporters and commuters should also be responsible in ensuring that, since the cost of transportation has been reduced by the introduction of CNG, they should now also reduce the fares they charge passengers. That way, it becomes a win-win situation,” Uzodimma said.

He stressed that APC governors would go beyond promoting the Federal Government’s reform agenda by working to ensure that its benefits reached ordinary Nigerians.

“We are not going to only sit here and sing the songs of reform. We are going to make sure that the real beneficiaries of the reform policy are the people; that the masses feel the impact and that the dividends of these policies are impactful,” he added.

The Imo governor also used the state’s financial situation to illustrate what he described as the positive effects of the Tinubu administration’s reforms on states.

Uzodimma recalled that when he assumed office in 2021, Imo State faced significant financial pressure, with limited funds available for government operations and development after meeting salary obligations.

“In 2021, I became the Governor without President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his reform policies. It was difficult at the end of every month after paying salaries. That is, if we managed to pay salaries, we had money to run the state.

“Today, we pay salaries as we do, and we have money to execute all the achievements that we have recorded in the state. It is not only in my state. Every other state. Most of our governors are very active, with a lot of projects here and there,” he said.

Uzodimma said the governors appreciated Tinubu’s reform policies but acknowledged that they also carried the responsibility of ensuring that additional resources and other benefits generated by the reforms translated into meaningful improvements for citizens.

“We are grateful to Mr President and his reform policies. And we are charged again to ensure that the real benefits, that the real beneficiaries of the reform policy are the people. That the masses will feel the impact,” he said.

He added that ensuring Nigerians could see the benefits of government policies in their everyday lives would make it easier for citizens to understand the purpose and impact of the administration’s reforms.