Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has expressed absolute confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general elections, despite anticipated opposition. The governor, who serves as National Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHAs), made the declaration during the opening of a two-day South-South Zonal Summit in Asaba, Delta State.
The summit, themed “One Party, One Message, One Mobilisation,” aims to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structure in the South-South region. Governor Uzodimma framed the administration’s economic reforms as necessary, albeit painful, corrections to decades of systemic failures, including fuel subsidies, multiple exchange rates, and an inefficient power sector. He acknowledged a current disconnect between improving macroeconomic indicators—such as a stabilising naira and declining inflation—and the persistent financial strain felt by ordinary Nigerians.
“The gains of reforms are permanent but the pains are temporary,” Uzodimma stated, charging the RHAs with the critical role of interpreting government policies for the public. He described the ambassadors as “the bridge between government performance and citizens’ awareness,” tasked with communicating that current hardships are transitional toward long-term prosperity. He asserted that the opposition offers no alternative vision, making public understanding of the Renewed Hope Agenda paramount for electoral success.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who hosted the event, called the summit a “strategic platform” for deepening party mobilisation. He stressed that unity in messaging is essential to counter opposition influence, urging stakeholders to actively defend reforms and translate support into votes.
Former Delta Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the South-South Coordinator of the RHAs, explained the summit’s purpose is to equip ambassadors with knowledge to effectively communicate the administration’s agenda. He listed key achievements, including rising foreign reserves, increased oil production, and infrastructure projects, while admitting a communication gap limits public appreciation of these gains. He emphasised the need for ambassadors to engage communities with factual, relatable counter-narratives to misinformation.
Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, the South-West Coordinator of RHAs and summit chairman, highlighted the South-South’s economic significance, noting the region’s “growing alignment with APC” reflects increasing acceptance of the party’s policies. He expressed optimism that the APC would secure victory in 2027.
The event gathered participants from the six South-South states—Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers—marking a concerted effort by the APC to consolidate support in a politically vital region ahead of the next election cycle. The RHAs’ immediate task is to localise the narrative of “pain now for gain later” as they prepare for extensive grassroots engagement.
