*Parties target grassroots mobilisation Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Ahead of the August 19, 2026 commencement of political campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, some of the leading political parties in the polls — the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have intensified preparations to mobilise voters and roll out their campaign structures nationwide. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had published the particulars and credentials of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates, paving the way for political parties to commence the next phase of the electoral contest.President Bola Tinubu is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the ADC alongside former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the NDC, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate. With the official campaign window now only days away, the three major parties in the 2027 elections are focusing their preparations on grassroots mobilisation, campaign structures, voter engagement and the coordination of their nationwide political machinery.For the ruling APC, preparations are focused on consolidating its existing structures and mobilising support for the renewal of the Tinubu-Shettima mandate. The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the APC was prepared for the campaign, stressing that the ruling party understood the greater responsibility placed on it.“Why no party is over prepared, but our party is not under prepared. As the party in power, we know the responsibility is more on our head than it is on other parties that are jostling for positions with us,” he said.Ibrahim said the party was working to retain Nigerians’ confidence and secure the re-election of Tinubu on the platform of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The APC has also activated its grassroots mobilisation machinery ahead of the campaign season.The Concerned National APC Stakeholders Forum recently inaugurated state coordinators for the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Canvassers, with the objective of building support from polling units, wards and local government areas.The convener, Dr Dominic Alancha, said the organisation would take the party’s message beyond Abuja and state capitals to communities across the country. He urged the coordinators to engage voters through persuasion rather than intimidation, saying the campaign must focus on the administration’s policies, reforms and achievements while acknowledging the challenges confronting Nigerians.“We must listen to their concerns. Where Nigerians are angry, we must listen. Where they are hopeful, we must strengthen that hope. Where they do not understand government policies, we must explain them,” Alancha said.He described the proposed campaign as one of “ideas, engagement, persuasion and performance.”For the ADC, preparations are centred on building a nationwide grassroots structure around Atiku and Amaechi while sustaining efforts to bring opposition forces together. The party has undertaken membership registration and revalidation across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and has been strengthening its structures at state and local government levels.It has also been developing grassroots-oriented campaign structures, with emphasis on young voters, women, first-time voters and community leaders.ADC officials said the party’s voter education efforts were also intended to translate political support into informed participation at polling units. ADC’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, had said the ADC was not preparing merely to participate in 2027, but preparing to win. The ADC is also continuing discussions with other opposition parties and political groups as part of efforts to build a broader platform against the APC. For the NDC, which is fielding Obi, the immediate focus is on internal cohesion, grassroots mobilisation and building alliances with political forces that share its vision. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the NDC was intensifying efforts to achieve “unity of purpose and oneness” within its ranks while expanding its support base across the country. “We are doing our best to ensure unity of purpose and oneness so that we can focus on the task ahead,” Director said. He said the party remained willing to work with other political parties and groups that shared its vision ahead of the election. “As an opposition party, we are willing to work with anyone
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