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As political realignments gather momentum across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, grassroots mobilisation is increasingly shaping the contest for elective offices, with community based political organisations intensifying efforts to build structures capable of influencing voter participation and electoral outcomes.
Against this backdrop, more than one hundred residents drawn from Okaiuga in Ohuhu, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, have been inaugurated into the Abia Good Governance Forum, AGGF, in a move designed to deepen grassroots participation and strengthen the forum’s political mobilisation network across the area.
The newly inaugurated members pledged to safeguard their polling units during the 2027 general elections and expressed their commitment to work for the election of Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji as the next member representing Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency, Chief Eric Opah as Governor of Abia State and the re election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing the gathering shortly before the inauguration, the Founder of the Abia Good Governance Forum, Dr Charles Ukeagu, said the organisation already has structures across the seventeen local government areas of Abia State but is embarking on a fresh phase of expansion to deepen its presence throughout Ohuhuland.
According to him, the inauguration marked the beginning of a wider grassroots campaign that would extend from the nineteen communities in Okaiuga to other communities in Ohuhu before spreading across Umuahia.
Ukeagu also disclosed plans to bring more than four thousand members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance from the Ikwuano Umuahia axis into the movement, adding that they would subsequently 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, adding that his commitment remains centred on initiatives that would improve the welfare of the people. He cited his annual December football tournament and his proposed football academy in Ohuhuland, noting that the certification process for the academy is already in progress.
He charged the newly inaugurated coordinators, made up of five representatives from each community, to embark on extensive membership drives across their respective communities, describing them as grassroots ambassadors expected to strengthen the forum’s reach ahead of the next election cycle.
While urging members to embrace issue based politics, Ukeagu cautioned against political compromise and hypocrisy, insisting that the 2027 elections should be determined by competence, performance and the capacity to deliver quality representation.
Commenting on representation in the Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency, Ukeagu expressed disappointment with the performance of the incumbent lawmaker, stating that, in his assessment, the constituency had not received the level of representation many people anticipated after the 2023 election.
He argued that electoral choices should be guided by measurable performance rather than ethnic sentiment or brotherhood, maintaining that politics must remain a vehicle for development and accountable leadership.
Ukeagu 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 and the wider Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency, informed the forum’s decision to support his aspiration for the House of Representatives seat.
He urged members to work tirelessly to ensure Orji’s emergence in 2027, expressing confidence that his election would provide effective representation and accelerate development across the constituency.
Turning to the national political landscape, Ukeagu gave an extensive appraisal of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the President as a courageous and visionary leader who has demonstrated uncommon political will in confronting longstanding structural challenges facing Nigeria. According to him, although some of the administration’s reforms initially attracted criticism because of their immediate economic impact, they were conceived to reposition the nation for long term economic stability, fiscal discipline and sustainable growth.
He maintained that President Tinubu has continued to strengthen democratic institutions, expand critical infrastructure, promote economic diversification and sustain efforts aimed at improving national security despite prevailing challenges. Ukeagu argued that the administration’s bold policy decisions reflected purposeful leadership rather than political expediency, insisting that continuity would enable the reforms to mature and deliver greater dividends to Nigerians. He therefore appealed to members of the forum to mobilise support for the President’s re election in 2027, describing a second term as essential for consolidating ongoing reforms and national development programmes.
On the Abia governorship contest, Ukeagu lauded Chief Eric Opah as a seasoned administrator, accomplished professional and grassroots oriented leader with the capacity to provide purposeful governance for the state. He said Opah possesses the administrative competence, leadership versatility and development driven vision required to unlock Abia’s economic potential, improve public service delivery and accelerate infrastructure, agricultural and human capital development.
According to him, Chief Opah’s broad understanding of governance, wealth of experience and commitment to inclusive leadership distinguish him as a credible governorship prospect capable of repositioning Abia for sustainable growth. He urged members of the forum to begin intensive grassroots mobilisation in support of Opah’s aspiration, expressing optimism that his emergence would usher in a new era of prosperity, accountability and people centred governance.
Ukeagu, who is also the Organising Secretary of the City Boys Movement in Abia State, reminded members that the Abia Good Governance Forum would work in close coordination with the movement and reiterated that the forum’s political support remains with the All Progressives Congress. He urged members to deliver overwhelming votes for President Tinubu, Chief Eric Opah and Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji during the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated members, including Mr Hart Agwu, the beneficiaries pledged to strengthen the forum across Ohuhuland and mobilise support for candidates they believe would provide effective representation and responsive leadership.
They described Dr Charles Ukeagu as a leader committed to the advancement of his people through practical development initiatives and assured him of their readiness to expand the movement across the grassroots.
The event featured a unanimous declaration by members that the forum’s singular objective is to unite Ohuhuland behind a common political vision and build a formidable grassroots structure capable of influencing the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
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