The Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,NDC, has inaugurated its State Campaign Council, as party leaders advised members to unite and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the January 16, 2027, general elections.

The inauguration, which took place at the campaign office of the party in Owerri, attracted prominent national and state leaders of the party, political stakeholders, candidates and members appointed to various directorates of the campaign council.

Inaugurating the campaign council, the state chairman of the party, Reginald Uwakwe, expressed confidence in the party's leadership and its preparedness for the forthcoming elections.

He declared that the party has gained significant political inroads across the country, stressing the need to consolidate its growing support ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election and subsequent state elections.

Uwakwe commended the national leadership of the party for appointing Martin Agbaso as the State National Campaign Council Coordinator, describing him as an accomplished political leader with a strong understanding of the political realities in Nigeria and Imo State.

The NDC state chairman maintained that Agbaso's political experience, alongside the contributions of other seasoned leaders appointed to the campaign council, provides the party with the necessary leadership to achieve its electoral goals.

In his remarks, Agbaso expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for attending the inauguration and charged the newly inaugurated officers to move beyond formal appointments and commence immediate mobilisation across their respective areas of responsibility.

He emphasised that every card-carrying member of the NDC is automatically a member of the campaign council, noting that the party's collective responsibility was to secure victory at the polls.

Agbaso specifically directed the heads of the various directorates to extend their activities to the 27 LGAs of the state, work closely with party leaders and establish functional campaign structures across the wards.

The State National Campaign Council maintained that the party has a clear electoral objective to deliver its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at the January 16, 2027, presidential election.

“We are here to win. Anything short of delivering our presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, and his running mate, His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is not welcomed. We have serious work to do, and that work is to make ourselves proud come January 16, 2027. That is the victory of our party,” he declared.

Agbaso further appealed to party members to embrace humility, cooperation and collective responsibility, insisting that unity must remain the guiding principle of the campaign.

He stressed the need for members to be more united, noting that the party stands to benefit significantly from working together, urging members to put aside personal differences and prioritise the collective ambition of producing a new Nigeria under the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

Speaking on behalf of the campaign council, William Amanze Obi described the assignment as a serious political responsibility requiring discipline, strategic coordination and collective commitment.

He explained that they are ready to carry out the task given to them with every seriousness needed for a successful election victory.

“We shall all work together to win in all positions. Successful political victories are as serious as a coup. This is a task for a new Nigeria under Mr Peter Obi, and by the grace of God, we shall succeed,” he said.

The event was attended by the party's national and state candidates, political stakeholders and other members appointed to the various directorates of the State National Campaign Council.

Imo NDC inaugurates campaign council ahead of 2027 polls

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has left open the possibility of Godswill Akpabio returning as Senate President in 2027.

Yilwatda said the decision on whether Akpabio would return as Senate President rests with the Senate and not the APC.

He spoke during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today on Monday night.

Asked whether Akpabio would return as Senate President in 2027, Yilwatda said, "You know that the Senate will determine it. Let's wait for the election first. I don't have anybody in mind. The Senate will determine who they want to make Senate President. We, as a party, will only just bring the Majority Leader."

On the political dispute between former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma, the APC chairman said the party would allow the court to determine the matter.

Asked about the dispute, he said, "We will allow the court to settle it, but behind the scenes, we are doing management of the case.

"The report I have of all the political parties, you don't have one tenth of it. I have my intelligence around everybody. I filter data from all.

"There is no political party that does not have a research unit, and the research unit goes as low as scavenging for data."

APC Chairman speaks on Akpabio’s chances of returning as Senate President in 2027