2027: Federal Parastatal CEOs Meet APC Chairman, Back Tinubu’s Re-Election Bid
Tinubu 2027: FORCEPA Delegation Visits APC National Secretariat
2027 Elections: Federal Agency CEOs Rally Behind Tinubu
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| Delegation of Chief Executives Officers of Federal Government Ministries during a visit to the National Secretariat of the APC where they were received by the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and other members of the National Working Committee. |
ABUJA — The Forum of CEOs of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA) has emerged as a potential strategic force in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, with its leadership advocating a more coordinated effort to communicate the administration’s achievements and strengthen grassroots mobilisation.
The coalition, led by Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation, is positioning itself as a complementary structure to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidential Campaign Council, with a focus on policy implementation, performance evaluation and public communication.
The initiative reflects an argument that the responsibility for communicating the administration’s record should extend beyond party officials to include the public-sector leaders responsible for implementing government programmes.
FORCEPA has engaged the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between federal agency leadership and the ruling party.
According to the coalition’s position, those directly involved in implementing government policies are well placed to explain their objectives, assess their outcomes and communicate their impact to Nigerians.
FORCEPA Seeks to Shift 2027 Campaign Narrative
Unlike the 2023 election campaign, which was largely built around promises and policy commitments, the emerging 2027 political contest is expected to place greater emphasis on the administration’s performance, economic outcomes and the practical effects of its reforms.
FORCEPA’s proposed role centres on providing technical support, institutional knowledge and grassroots networks to strengthen the government’s communication strategy.
Its members are expected to draw on their professional experience and nationwide connections to explain government policies, identify communication gaps and bring the administration’s messages to communities that may be beyond the immediate reach of conventional campaign structures.
The coalition’s supporters argue that this approach could help bridge the gap between policy implementation and public perception by giving Nigerians access to information from officials familiar with the government’s programmes.
However, the effectiveness of the strategy will depend on the coalition’s ability to present verifiable evidence of progress and address public concerns about the cost of living, employment, purchasing power and living standards.
International Assessments Provide Economic Context
The administration’s economic reform programme is expected to feature prominently in the coalition’s proposed messaging.
Assessments by international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the African Development Bank, as well as rating agencies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, have provided perspectives on Nigeria’s economic reforms, fiscal adjustments and macroeconomic outlook.
These assessments have addressed issues including foreign exchange market reforms, revenue mobilisation, external-sector performance and macroeconomic stability, although the institutions have also highlighted continuing risks and challenges.
For FORCEPA, the economic debate presents an opportunity to explain the objectives of the administration’s policies and communicate measurable results.
Yet, the central challenge remains translating improvements in economic indicators into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians, including more affordable goods, better employment opportunities, increased household purchasing power and improved access to essential services.
The coalition’s grassroots engagement could therefore become an important channel for explaining both the rationale behind government reforms and the outcomes citizens can reasonably expect.
Dr. Raji’s Leadership and Political Experience
At the centre of FORCEPA’s strategy is its chairman, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, an engineer with more than 25 years of experience in leadership, project management and technological innovation.
Raji, an indigene of Oyo State popularly known as “Raji KK,” developed his academic and leadership foundation at the University of Ibadan, where he served as Hall Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall.
His professional background spans technical engineering, business management and public-sector leadership. He also holds advanced academic qualifications, including a doctorate, reflecting his multidisciplinary career.
Raji previously served as Director of National Youth Mobilisation for the South-West under the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 general elections.
His combination of public administration experience and political mobilisation is expected to inform FORCEPA’s efforts to connect government policy implementation with electoral communication ahead of the next general election.
Ajiboye to Lead Media and Publicity Strategy
Another prominent figure in the coalition is Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and chairman of FORCEPA’s Media and Publicity Committee.
Ajiboye brings more than three decades of experience in media, advertising, public communication and political messaging.
His role is expected to focus on developing communication strategies, identifying gaps in the presentation of government policies and strengthening public understanding of the administration’s programmes.
Ajiboye has argued that the responsibility for communicating government achievements should not rest exclusively with the Presidential Campaign Council.
He has instead advocated a complementary role for FORCEPA as a technical monitoring and communication structure capable of identifying weaknesses in existing messaging and reinforcing narratives with relevant institutional information.
His experience in advertising and public communication could prove valuable as political parties and interest groups prepare for an increasingly competitive contest in 2027.
Economic Performance and Public Trust Remain Critical
The coalition’s emergence highlights the growing importance of communication and grassroots engagement in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
For an incumbent administration seeking another term, the challenge extends beyond presenting policy achievements. It also involves demonstrating how those policies have affected households, businesses, farmers, traders and young people.
While international assessments can provide useful context for evaluating economic reforms, voters are also likely to judge the administration by their personal experiences, including food prices, transport costs, access to jobs and the overall cost of living.
FORCEPA’s proposed strategy will therefore face the task of connecting national economic indicators with credible evidence of progress at the community level.
Its ability to communicate achievements transparently, acknowledge unresolved challenges and provide verifiable information could shape its effectiveness as a political mobilisation platform.
A Potential Force in the 2027 Election
With Raji providing leadership and Ajiboye overseeing media and publicity, FORCEPA is seeking to establish itself as a supporting pillar in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
The coalition’s approach is built around the premise that public-sector implementers can offer technical insight and institutional knowledge that complement traditional party structures.
If effectively organised, the initiative could broaden the channels through which the administration communicates its policies and achievements to Nigerians.
Ultimately, however, the coalition’s political impact will depend on more than the credentials of its members or the scale of its proposed mobilisation. Its credibility will be tested by the quality of the evidence it presents, the consistency of its communication and its ability to connect government performance with the everyday concerns of citizens.
As preparations for the 2027 election gather momentum, FORCEPA is positioning itself at the intersection of public administration, political communication and grassroots engagement, with the ambition of helping shape the debate over President Tinubu’s record and second-term prospects.
By Omonu Nelson