The battle for the 2027 general elections in Kogi State is shifting to the grassroots, with the Win With Tinubu (WWT) mobilisation programme announcing plans to establish a political network across all 239 electoral wards to consolidate support for President Bola Tinubu and candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The State Coordinator of WWT, Hon. Sani Phillips, disclosed this in Lokoja on Thursday while addressing journalists on the programme’s next phase, describing the initiative as a strategic shift from constituency-wide political engagements to a ward-based mobilisation machinery designed to convert political support into votes.
Phillips said the programme would inaugurate its local government and ward executive structures simultaneously across the state on Sunday, November 1, marking what could become a critical phase in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
With the opposition expected to intensify its challenge in the coming months, the WWT initiative signals a growing determination within the ruling party to take the political contest beyond elite endorsements and public rallies to the communities where electoral decisions are ultimately made.
“The mission is clear and consistent: to build a well-coordinated, bottom-up mobilisation structure that connects political leadership with communities,” Phillips said, stressing that the ultimate objective was to secure the re-election of Tinubu and victory for APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats in Kogi State.
He maintained that the initiative was not merely another political gathering but an attempt to build a permanent grassroots network capable of sustaining political communication, monitoring public sentiment and coordinating support ahead of the polls.
The programme is operating under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, with Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, representing Kogi West, serving as chairman, and Senator Jibrin Isah, popularly known as Echocho, representing Kogi East, as co-chairman.
Phillips acknowledged the contributions of both senators to the programme, particularly their financial support for the recently concluded federal constituency town hall meetings, which he described as the foundation for the next stage of the mobilisation drive.
According to him, the town hall meetings provided opportunities to communicate the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, engage political stakeholders and obtain feedback on issues affecting communities across the state.
But he argued that constituency-level meetings alone could not sustain the kind of political engagement required to win elections, insisting that the APC-aligned initiative must now establish structures capable of maintaining direct contact with voters throughout the electoral cycle.
The second phase will focus on five areas: ward-level coordination, policy communication, community engagement, volunteer mobilisation, and monitoring and accountability.
Under the arrangement, ward executives will coordinate activities at the community level, working with local government structures to relay information, document public concerns and report progress to the state leadership.
Phillips said the programme would also promote what he described as factual and verifiable information about the Federal Government’s policies and achievements, while encouraging volunteers to participate peacefully in political activities.
In a politically significant disclaimer, he insisted that WWT was not a campaign council but a dedicated grassroots mobilisation programme designed to generate support for Tinubu and APC National Assembly candidates.
The distinction, he explained, was intended to underscore the programme’s bottom-up approach, with its operational structure running from individual wards through local governments to the state level.
“Our bottom-up structure is designed to grow from the wards through the local governments to the state level,” he said, adding that the programme’s success would depend on effective implementation rather than political declarations.
The coordinator also pledged that the mobilisation exercise would be conducted without intimidation, coercion or inducement, arguing that sustainable political support must be built through persuasion, trust and consistent engagement with citizens.
He said the programme would introduce monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track activities, identify operational gaps and measure the reach of its mobilisation efforts.
The announcement comes as political actors across Nigeria begin laying the groundwork for the 2027 general elections, with party structures, grassroots alliances and voter engagement expected to play decisive roles in the contest for federal and state-level political influence.
For the APC in Kogi, the planned activation of structures across 239 wards presents an opportunity to strengthen its organisational reach and reinforce the influence of its political leadership ahead of the elections.
However, whether the mobilisation network can translate its proposed structures into measurable electoral gains will depend on its ability to sustain community engagement, respond credibly to public concerns and persuade voters that the policies it promotes address their everyday realities.
Phillips called on party stakeholders, supporters and volunteers to participate in the exercise, insisting that the programme’s ultimate test would be its capacity to transform grassroots organisation into electoral results.
“From the grassroots to the ballot box, our commitment remains: organisation, communication and democratic participation,” he said.
TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESS BY THE KOGI STATE PROGRAM COORDINATOR, HON. SANI PHILIPS, ON THE OFFICIAL FLAG-OFF OF THE WIN WITH TINUBU (WWT) GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION PROGRAM ACROSS THE TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE (239) WARDS IN KOGI STATE, HELD ON THURSDAY, 29TH OF MARCH 2026.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, political stakeholders, invited guests, and respected colleagues in the Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program for Kogi State.
Let me begin by welcoming you to this press conference, themed **“Re-engineering Grassroots Politics in Kogi State.”**
This event is organized to herald the official commencement of the Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program across the two hundred and thirty-nine (239) electoral wards in Kogi State. We will also present our program trajectory, review previous grassroots mobilization efforts; especially the just concluded Federal Constituency town hall meetings across the state, unveil the next phase of our statewide grassroots mobilization framework, and reaffirm our commitment to building a coordinated grassroots movement in support of the re election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections in Kogi State.
We appreciate your presence and acknowledge the critical role of the media in informing and shaping public opinion, contributing to national conversations, holding institutions accountable, and promoting democratic participation.
Permit me to acknowledge the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, ably led by His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State; Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, Senator representing the good and amiable people of Kogi West and Chairman, WWT; Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho), Senator representing the dogmatic people of Kogi East and Co-Chairman, WWT; as well as other leaders of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kogi State.
The WWT mission is clear and consistent: to build a well-coordinated, bottom-up mobilization structure that connects political leadership with communities, and to promote informed political participation through consistent grassroots engagement that translates into lawful votes for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections in Kogi State.
You will agree with me that grassroots mobilization is fundamental to winning elections, and that communities represent the majority of voters whose decisions ultimately shape electoral outcomes. It is pertinent to state clearly that electoral victory is largely determined by the connections we build within communities, in neighborhoods, and at individual levels.
Today, we are announcing not merely another political activity, but a strategic transition in our approach to grassroots mobilization toward winning elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State.
PHASE ONE: THE WIN WITH TINUBU (WWT) TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Since its inception, the Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program for Kogi State has pursued a deliberate strategy of taking our message directly to the people, who are themselves the determining factor in every election, through strategic town hall meetings across the state’s federal constituencies.
As you already know, political success comes from listening to the people at the grassroots, addressing their concerns, and ensuring they feel part of the vision for a brighter future. Our just concluded town hall meetings across the state provided credible platforms for political dialogue, stakeholder interaction, and constructive engagement on national policies and community concerns.
The outcomes of these meetings helped the program formulate potent strategies toward winning elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State.
The strategic town hall engagements constituted the first phase of the grassroots mobilization framework. They were designed to communicate the policies and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, encourage constructive political conversations, and lay the foundation for a broader mobilization network across the state.
These engagements, undertaken with the participation and tremendous financial support of key stakeholders, including Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District and Chairman, WWT, and Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho), Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District and Co-Chairman, WWT have laid a solid foundation for scaling our grassroots mobilization outreach across Kogi State in support of the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State.
The successful completion of the Federal Constituency town hall meetings marked the end of the first phase of our grassroots mobilization efforts.
However, we recognize that grassroots mobilization cannot end with town hall meetings alone. While such meetings provide important opportunities for engagement, sustainable mobilization requires functional structures that maintain contact with the people, coordinate activities, communicate relevant information, and respond to the realities of individual communities.
It is this understanding that has informed our decision to move into the second phase of our grassroots mobilization efforts by advancing to a decentralized mobilization model that connects the two hundred and thirty-nine (239) electoral wards in the state.
PHASE TWO: SIMULTANEOUS STATEWIDE WARD MOBILIZATION ROLLOUT
Today, as part of the transition into Phase Two of our mobilization efforts, I am pleased to formally announce the official inauguration of the WWT Program Structures. The inauguration event will take place simultaneously across all 239 electoral wards in Kogi State on Sunday, 1 November 2026.
This phase will focus on inaugurating and activating our Local Government and Ward Executive structures, with particular emphasis on the wards as the foundation of our grassroots operations.
The inauguration of these structures represents a significant step in translating the program’s vision into an organized, coordinated, and functional statewide network.
Let me emphasize that this is not simply an exercise in appointing executives or creating positions. It is about building a formidable structure capable of taking mobilization directly to the people in the communities where they live, strengthening communication at the community level, and ensuring that our cardinal objective of winning elections is achieved.
We are therefore moving from constituency-wide engagements to sustained, decentralized, and measurable grassroots mobilization.
Our next phase will connect all two hundred and thirty-nine (239) electoral wards in Kogi State through a coordinated network of dedicated and committed team members, volunteers, and political stakeholders.
FIVE KEY DELIVERABLES OF THE SECOND PHASE
Distinguished members of the press, to translate our vision into practical results, the second phase of the WWT Grassroots Mobilization Program will focus on five key deliverables.
First, Ward-Level Coordination.
We will establish clear responsibilities, leadership arrangements, and communication channels across our grassroots structures. Our Ward Executives will serve as the operational foundation of the program, working with their Local Government counterparts to coordinate activities and maintain effective communication with state leadership. The objective is to ensure that every level of our structure understands its responsibilities and operates within a coordinated framework.
Second, Policy Communication.
We will promote factual, verifiable, and accessible information about the policies, programs, and achievements of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our responsibility is to communicate relevant information clearly, explain policy objectives, and engage constructively with questions raised by the people.
We recognize that effective political communication must be responsible and credible. Our message should be supported by verifiable information and presented in a manner that enables citizens to understand the issues before them.
Third, Community Engagement.
Our mobilization structures will not operate solely as channels for transmitting political messages. They must also provide opportunities to listen to the people, understand community priorities, and document concerns arising from the grassroots. We intend to strengthen two-way communication between the program and the communities in which it operates. By listening as well as communicating, we can develop a better understanding of local realities and encourage more meaningful participation in democratic processes.
Fourth, Volunteer Mobilization.
We will encourage willing citizens and supporters to participate peacefully in our political engagement activities. Our mobilization efforts will be based on voluntary participation, respect for democratic rights, and constructive engagement.
There will be no place for intimidation, coercion, or inducement. We believe that enduring political support is better built through communication, persuasion, trust, and consistent engagement than through pressure or compulsion.
Fifth, Monitoring, Reporting, and Accountability.
We will strengthen the monitoring and reporting of activities across the various levels of our structure. This will involve tracking engagements, documenting progress, identifying challenges, and evaluating the effectiveness of our interventions. Reliable information and appropriate data management will help us understand the reach of our activities, identify areas requiring attention, and improve the coordination of future initiatives. We expect our officials to provide accurate reports and take their responsibilities seriously.
Accountability will be essential to ensuring that the program’s objectives translate into practical outcomes.
Together, these five deliverables will guide our transition from periodic political gatherings to continuous, coordinated, and measurable grassroots engagement.
WWT IS NOT A CAMPAIGN COUNCIL
I consider it necessary at this point to clarify the strategic objective of the Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program for Kogi State.
The Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program for Kogi State is not a campaign council.
It is a structured grassroots mobilization program carefully designed and dedicated to mobilizing grassroots support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the National Assembly elections in Kogi State.
This distinction is fundamental to understanding the operational matrix of the program. The program is founded on the conviction that effective political mobilization must begin where the electorate lives and participates in the democratic process.
Our bottom-up structure is designed to grow from the wards through the local governments to the state level. This bottom-to-top approach is the defining feature of the program. It reflects our belief that meaningful political engagement requires direct contact with the people, organized community participation, and functional structures capable of identifying local concerns and addressing them effectively.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE 2027 ELECTIONS
The Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program remains fully committed to mobilizing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and all APC candidates through lawful political participation, responsible communication, and sustained community outreach.
We reaffirm our commitment to discipline, transparency, factual messaging, and respect for democratic rights. Our mobilization will remain peaceful, voluntary, and free from intimidation, coercion, or inducement.
We welcome objective media scrutiny and urge journalists to distinguish between announced plans, ongoing activities, and verified results in their reportage.
CONCLUSION: FROM THE WARDS TO STATEWIDE IMPACT
Our vision is to transform constituency-level engagements into a coordinated statewide grassroots network. The planned rollout across 239 wards represents the logical next step in this journey. We recognize that success will depend not on declarations alone, but on effective implementation, accountability, and measurable progress at the grassroots level.
WWT therefore calls on all stakeholders, supporters, and volunteers to embrace this organizational mission and work peacefully and collectively toward its objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
From the grassroots to the ballot box, our commitment remains: organization, communication, and democratic participation.
@Win With Tinubu: You win, I win, we win—WinWin!
Let’s Win Together!
The future is bright !
Thank you.
May God bless the Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilization Program.
May God bless Kogi State.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed:
Hon. Sani Phillips
State Program Coordinator,
Win With Tinubu (WWT), Kogi State.
