Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Dr. Ben Nwoye, an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s March 28 convention, has urged party members to mobilise effectively ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists in Enugu, the lawyer-turned-politician said progressives within the party must take ownership of the political process, stressing that political engagement should go beyond slogan-chanting at rallies.
“The progressives need to embark on what I would describe as a purposeful and progressive-driven mobilisation, moving from city to city, town to town, village to village, and door to door, explaining to Nigerians what the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is about and what it has achieved since he assumed office,” he said.
Nwoye noted that while the administration had recorded notable achievements, the APC had not done enough to effectively communicate these gains to the public.
“Today, we have a president who has introduced policies to ensure that lack of finance will no longer prevent anyone from accessing education, including tertiary education, through government-backed student loans,” he said.
He, however, observed that many of the administration’s policies had gained more traction in northern Nigeria than in the South, attributing the disparity to inadequate sensitisation.
“It is simply because we have not properly communicated these policies to our people in southern Nigeria, nor institutionalised them. As a result, many people in this part of the country are unaware of these initiatives,” he added.
Nwoye pledged that if elected, he would prioritise awareness and implementation of federal interventions, particularly in the education sector.
“I will ensure that students are well informed about these Federal Government initiatives. There should be dedicated desks in institutions to sensitise youths on available opportunities such as student loans,” he said.
He described it as unfortunate that many Nigerians remain unaware of such opportunities despite their availability.
The former APC chairman in Enugu State further admitted that the party’s performance in the South had been less than satisfactory, particularly in communicating the administration’s policies.
“We cannot continue to remain on the sidelines, waiting for large rallies where leaders simply repeat slogans like ‘on your mandate we shall stand,’” he said.
According to him, his candidacy is anchored on taking the Renewed Hope Agenda directly to the people, while acknowledging the temporary hardships caused by ongoing reforms.
“Yes, reforms have brought some hardship, but history shows that nations that undergo reforms often face initial difficulties before experiencing long-term gains. We must explain this to the people,” he stated.
Nwoye also promised to foster unity within the party by resolving internal disputes and reconciling aggrieved members.
“We will resolve disputes where they exist, mend broken fences, and build bridges where necessary. As Deputy National Chairman (South), I will ensure that the entire southern region rallies behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027,” he said.
He expressed concern that the APC’s strongest opposition currently emanates from the South, criticising what he described as the party leadership’s passive approach.
“Opposition forces are regrouping across parties such as the PDP, ADC and LP, while we are preoccupied with celebrating defections. That approach is insufficient,” he warned.
He further cautioned against neglecting long-standing party members in favour of new entrants.
“We are losing our old members because they feel neglected. Those who built this party when it had little value must not be treated as expendable. While we welcome new members, we must not sideline the founding fathers,” he said.
Nwoye concluded by calling for renewed efforts to reconcile aggrieved stakeholders across the southern states, noting that internal divisions often drive defections.
“We must repair the cracks within the party. Across the South-East, South-South and South-West, there are visible divisions. These issues must be addressed if we are to strengthen the party ahead of 2027,” he said.
