The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi Central Senatorial District has begun preparations for the 2027 general elections with the inauguration of a campaign organization tasked with mobilizing voters across the district.
The campaign team was inaugurated under the leadership of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, with Dr. Salami Etudaiye appointed Director-General and Hon. Abubakar Yahaya Karaku named Campaign Chairman.
Other members of the campaign organisation include Hon. Jacob Ogirima Anebe as Secretary, Hon. Ilyasu Zubair as Head of Operations, Hon. Isiaka Uhuanaye as Head of Technicals and Hon. Jane Onoba as Head of Welfare.
Speaking during the inauguration, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the new campaign leadership to focus on direct engagement with voters rather than relying solely on large political rallies.
She said the PDP’s strategy must reach individual households, wards and polling units across Kogi Central.
This campaign must be house-to-house and polling-unit-by-polling-unit. We must reach our people directly, listen to them, engage them and explain clearly why the PDP remains the best platform for the development and progress of our people.
The senator also called on the campaign organisation to welcome new members and supporters, regardless of previous political disagreements.
She stressed that the party would need the combined efforts of its leaders, women, youths, ward executives, volunteers and other stakeholders to build an effective campaign structure.
Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the team to maintain discipline, unity and commitment while ensuring that no ward or polling unit was left unattended.
In his acceptance speech, Etudaiye described his appointment as a major responsibility and pledged to deploy his experience and organisational skills towards building a strong PDP campaign across Kogi Central.
He said his role would go beyond occupying a title, describing the assignment as a call to build an effective political movement. This is not a ceremonial title. This is a call to battle. I did not accept this assignment to manage a campaign of polite handshakes and quiet meetings. I accepted it to organise a movement.”
Etudaiye said the campaign would extend across Okene, Adavi, Ajaokuta and Okehi, with particular attention to wards, polling units, markets, streets, campuses and households.
He expressed confidence that the party could secure victory through effective organisation, mobilization and unity. We are not going into this election to beg. We are going in to win and to win decisively.
The new campaign DG also called on women and young people to take active roles in the campaign, describing their participation as essential to the party’s mobilisation efforts.
He particularly urged young people to use their energy and digital skills to support the campaign. To our youth: your energy, your digital power, your courage—this campaign will be incomplete without you. Come and own it.”
Etudaiye pledged to run the campaign organisation with transparency, competence and a strong focus on delivering victory for the PDP.
The newly appointed Campaign Chairman, Abubakar Yahaya Karaku, congratulated members of the team and urged PDP stakeholders to put the interests of the party and the people ahead of personal differences.
Karaku called for peaceful political engagement and a campaign based on issues rather than personal attacks or divisive rhetoric.
He urged party members to take their message directly to voters and convince them through the party’s programmes and political agenda. Our message must be positive, our conduct must be responsible, and our mobilization must be strategic.
He also urged ward leaders, polling-unit coordinators, women and youth leaders, volunteers and other campaign operatives to work together.
According to him, every ward and polling unit will be important to the party’s chances in the 2027 elections. Nobody should consider himself or herself too important to work with another person. Every vote matter, every ward matters and every polling unit matters.”
Karaku further appealed to supporters to maintain peace throughout the electoral process and uphold democratic values.
The inauguration marks an early step in the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 elections in Kogi Central.
The campaign organization is expected to begin extensive grassroots mobilisation across the four local government areas of the senatorial district, with emphasis on voter engagement, internal coordination and strengthening the party’s presence at ward and polling-unit levels
