The battle for grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general elections has begun in Rivers State, with a political support group declaring its readiness to mobilise voters across four local government areas for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

The declaration was made on in Ahoada Town, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area, during the inauguration of the national executives and local government coordinators of the Orashi Mandate for Tinubu (OMT).

The group, which has a presence in Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas, said it would take the campaign for Tinubu’s second term to the grassroots through an aggressive membership and mobilisation drive.

The development signals an early effort by political support groups to establish structures at the ward and community levels ahead of the 2027 elections, with OMT saying its immediate priority is to build a broad-based support network across the four local government areas.

Speaking at the inauguration, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chidi Dogini, said OMT was established to promote the achievements of the Tinubu administration and mobilise support for his re-election.

Dogini said the organisation would also support candidates within what it described as the “rainbow coalition” in the 2027 elections.

He said the group’s political orientation was also influenced by the leadership of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, whose leadership style in Rivers State, he said, had convinced members of the need to align with his political direction.

According to him, OMT would pursue its activities through peace, unity and inclusive political participation, while encouraging young people to take an active role in the electoral process.

Dogini charged the newly inaugurated coordinators to take the message of the Tinubu administration to every ward, polling unit and community within their areas.

He also urged youths to shun violence and remain peaceful before, during and after the 2027 elections.

The National Secretary of OMT, Dr Godpower Egbono, said the group’s success would depend largely on its ability to expand its membership and establish a strong grassroots network.

Describing the organisation as a “shared vision” for Tinubu’s second-term bid, Egbono urged the newly inaugurated coordinators to embark on an aggressive membership drive.

“It is a shared vision to support Tinubu’s second term. It is grassroots mobilisation. Therefore, I am advising the coordinators to bring in new members,” he said.

The group received a boost from the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, with its Auditor-General, High Chief Lucky Otos, declaring support for the organisation and its activities.

Otos commended the group for beginning its mobilisation early and urged its members to remain peaceful and law-abiding in their political engagements.

The event was attended by party faithful, community leaders and political stakeholders from the four local government areas.

The inauguration culminated in the swearing-in of the national executives and LGA coordinators, who subsequently pledged to mobilise massive support for Tinubu and other candidates aligned with the group ahead of the 2027 elections.

With political alignments in Rivers State already taking shape ahead of 2027, the organisers said their immediate task was to translate their political support into a sustained grassroots structure capable of reaching voters at the ward, unit and community levels.