A coalition of former elected councillors under the aegis of the Renewed Hope Ex-Councillors Forum has pledged to deploy its nationwide grassroots network to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

They made the commitment at the weekend in Abuja during the official inauguration and first national executive council meeting of the forum.

 

Speaking, the forum’s National Coordinator, Bashir Bukar Baale, said the organisation had over 100,000 former councillors spread across Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards.

 

Baale described the Forum as a national movement of experienced grassroots politicians who served as elected councillors from 1990 to date, saying members would play a central role in promoting the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthening the APC across the country.

 

According to him, the Forum’s extensive grassroots structure places it in a strategic position to mobilise support for the President, educate Nigerians on government policies and achievements, and deepen democratic participation at the community level.

 

“Today, our Forum has structures across all the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria. With a membership of over 100,000 former councillors, we believe we constitute one of the largest APC grassroots stakeholder movements in the country.

 

Our members are registered voters, community leaders and mobilisers whose influence reaches every polling unit, ward and local government area,” he said.

 

Reaffirming the group’s loyalty to President Tinubu, Baale urged the President to remain focused on governance, assuring him that members of the Forum would take responsibility for grassroots political mobilisation.

 

“We respectfully appeal to Your Excellency to remain focused on the enormous responsibility of governing our great nation. Leave the task of grassroots mobilisation to us. We shall take the message of your administration to every ward, every local government and every state of the Federation,” he said.

 

He added that the Forum would continue to sensitise Nigerians on the achievements of the Tinubu administration, mobilise support for the APC and work within democratic and constitutional limits to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

Baale said the organisation was established not merely as a political support group but as a platform to unite former councillors in promoting peace, national unity, good governance and sustainable development.

 

He commended President Tinubu for his bold leadership in pursuing economic reforms, infrastructure development, education and local government development, saying the administration’s policies had continued to inspire confidence among supporters.

 

The National Coordinator also acknowledged the support of the Forum’s Board of Trustees Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters and Grand Patron of the Forum, Ibrahim Kabir Masari; and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for their encouragement.

 

Speaking on behalf of the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Dr. Mujidat Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Hajia Jamila Isa Ahmed congratulated the newly inaugurated national and state executives of the Forum, describing the event as a call to service.

 

She urged members to leverage their experience in grassroots governance to strengthen the relationship between government and the people while advancing the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

“As former councillors, you have first-hand experience of grassroots leadership. Your role in promoting unity, mobilising communities and supporting development is vital to the continued progress of our nation,” she said.