By Usman Aliyu
The Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Government Agencies and Parastatals has proposed a complementary technical structure to support the APC’s 2027 campaign.
This is contained in a statement by Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the forum, after its engagement with APC leaders.
The statement was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The forum met with the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Leading the delegation, the chairman of the forum, Dr Kazeem Raji, said the forum was established not merely as an association of government agency heads, but as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Raji, who is the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), said the forum was also designed to promote coordination and exchange of ideas among chief executives for national development.
“We are here not merely as Chief Executives occupying strategic positions in the Federal Government, but as professionals, public-sector leaders, political stakeholders and Nigerians,” he said.
Raji said the members were committed to the progress, stability and prosperity of the country.
He said public institutions had a responsibility to ensure that government programmes and achievements were properly communicated to Nigerians.
“Where government has delivered, we should communicate it,” Raji said.
Raji said the forum was prepared to work with relevant stakeholders to improve public understanding of government programmes, achievements and opportunities.
Ajiboye, on his part, said the forum could provide additional technical capacity to complement the work of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
He listed election planning, monitoring and management, grassroots mobilisation, media management, strategic messaging and campaign coordination among areas of possible contribution.
Ajiboye stressed that the forum was not seeking to duplicate or compete with the PCC.
He said it instead sought to establish a complementary mechanism capable of extending the PCC’s reach and providing additional technical support.
He said the communication demands of the 2027 election would differ from those of the 2023 presidential campaign.
According to him, the 2023 campaign focused substantially on what the APC candidate intended to do if elected President.
He said the 2027 campaign would instead involve communicating what the administration had done since assuming office.
Ajiboye said chief executives of federal parastatals were positioned to communicate government programmes because they implement policies across different sectors.
He said the forum could help identify communication gaps, strengthen campaign messaging and extend information to inadequately reached audiences.
“The communication apparatus for an election and campaign cannot be left to the PCC alone,” Ajiboye said.
He stressed that the proposed structure would complement, rather than replace, the PCC.
Ajiboye also commended President Bola Tinubu’s approach to governance and described some administration reforms as efforts to address structural challenges.
He said the forum would return to the APC leadership with detailed technical proposals on how its members could contribute to the 2027 campaign.
Responding, Yilwatda welcomed the initiative and described the formation of the forum as timely.
He said the party recognised the potential contribution of chief executives to political communication and grassroots engagement.
Yilwatda encouraged broad participation among heads of relevant federal parastatals.
He said electoral success required different stakeholders to understand and perform their respective roles.
The APC National Chairman identified grassroots mobilisation as an important component of the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
He welcomed the proposal for the forum to develop a structure complementing the PCC and taking campaign information closer to communities.
Yilwatda said the party was prepared to engage with the forum as preparations for the 2027 elections progressed.
He also indicated readiness for broader interaction with chief executives of federal parastatals.
Yilwatda referenced the administration’s long-term economic objectives, saying government institutions had responsibilities within their mandates towards achieving national development goals.
The forum had earlier declared support for Tinubu’s re-election and pledged to mobilise 10 million votes for him in the 2027 presidential election.
It said its members would deploy professional and community networks across the country for grassroots mobilisation.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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