…Pledge grassroots mobilisation ahead 2027 polls
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Stakeholders, ward leaders and supporters from all 12 wards of Chikun Constituency have renewed their commitment to the political aspiration of Hon. Matthew Moses of the National Democratic Party (NDC), vowing to build a strong grassroots structure to drive his campaign to victory.
The stakeholders’ engagement, held on Friday in Kaduna, provided a platform for supporters to review campaign progress, identify challenges and strategise on deeper grassroots mobilisation across the constituency.
Aspirant charges supporters
In his opening remarks, Hon. Moses charged members of the campaign team and supporters to see themselves as critical stakeholders in the success of the movement, according to a report by Amarachi Okoye of the Media Team, Hon. Matthew Moses, shared on Saturday.
The meeting coordinator, Mr Ezekiel, also emphasised the need for active participation at the ward level, stressing that a solid grassroots structure would be key to winning the election.
Election-day preparedness
A major highlight of the meeting was election-day preparedness. Participants resolved on the need to have at least two reliable polling-unit agents in every polling unit across Chikun.
The agents, they said, must be community-based, trusted by residents and capable of properly monitoring the electoral process.
Comrade Joshua Gabriel, popularly known as the Waka Waka Ambassador, raised concerns about voters who may have been transferred or who currently do not have access to their Permanent Voter Cards.
Dayo, another participant, stressed the importance of ballot-box managers and properly trained election-day personnel to ensure votes for the candidate are protected and accurately counted.
Hon. Moses reiterated that polling-unit agents would play a crucial role in coordinating and monitoring the election, while Mr Ezekiel added that the agents must be carefully selected from within the communities they will serve.
Grassroots contributions
Contributions from grassroots leaders shaped much of the discussion. Comrade Blessing spoke on the 28 polling units in her area, while the Waka Waka Ambassador shared lessons from monitoring Kakau Ward during the last election. Oladipo Rebecca proposed a ward-by-ward approach, urging members to brainstorm within their wards before reconvening as a larger group.
Mr Itodo Humble called for more emphasis on selling the aspirant’s vision to the electorate, noting that recruitment of polling-unit agents could be intensified in the final stages of the campaign.
“The priority should be to ensure that the people understand Hon. Matthew Moses, believe in his agenda and are convinced that he represents the kind of leadership they want,” he said.
Aspirant assures groundwork
Responding, Hon. Moses assured the gathering that substantial groundwork had already been done behind the scenes, including engagements with ward leaders and community stakeholders. He said the meeting was convened to further strengthen the structure and identify coordinators for polling units.
Alhaji Nasiru, in his remarks, commended the aspirant for his engagement with the people and emphasised the need for structural adjustments and strategic coordination.
Renewed resolve
The atmosphere throughout the engagement reflected unity and determination. From ward representatives to new volunteers, participants expressed readiness to take up responsibilities at the grassroots.
The meeting ended with a renewed resolve to take the campaign closer to the people, strengthen ward structures, and communicate the aspirant’s vision.
For supporters, the message was clear: “The campaign is not about one individual; it is a collective movement driven by the desire for effective representation, grassroots development and a stronger future for the people of Chikun.”
