Plan
The Diaspora Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has activated its structure and fice-point plan aimed at mobilising Nigerians abroad for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The Director of the directorate, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, unveiled a five-point agenda at the organisation’s inaugural news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said the directorate would harness the resources and commitment of Nigerians living abroad to support the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed gratitude to Tinubu, who chairs the campaign council, Director-General, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, the council’s director general, and Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the secretary, for their trust.
“Nigerians abroad are not outsiders. They are stakeholders,” she said.
According to her, Nigerians abroad send more than 20 billion dollars home annually and invest in health, agriculture, ICT, food business, and education.
Dabiri-Erewa stated that Tinubu considers the diaspora as Nigeria’s “37th state” and as one of the four pillars of his administration, namely: democracy, development, demography, and diaspora.
Dabiri-Erewa listed the five points as: “Global structure activation: Harmonising APC diaspora chapters across the six continents, without leaving out the U.S., Britain, Canada, South Africa, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, and Australia.
“The structure will include Nigerians abroad who belong to no party but support Tinubu’s re-election.
“Digital war room tagged, ‘Operation Tell Your Story’ will supply short videos, infographics, and fact sheets on the administration’s achievements.
“These include NELFUND, Renewed Hope Housing, improved foreign reserves, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) support, the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, and the Home Abroad Programme.
“Fundraising and compliance: A transparent Diaspora Support Fund for voter education, town halls, and grassroots mobilisation in states of origin will be instituted
“Voter registration and homecoming: An awareness drive on the ongoing PVC collection and Continuous Voter Registration, and a Diaspora Homecoming Week will be organised before the elections.”
According to her, more than 103 million Nigerians are on the voter register.
She said although Nigerians abroad might not yet be able to vote from overseas, they could influence opinion at home.
She said they would be urged to call relatives weekly to explain that reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, are yielding results.
She said a social media campaign under the hashtag #Diaspora4Tinubu2027 would begin in the coming days.
She urged media organisations to partner with the directorate.
Other members are Ifeanyi Nwefuna (member); Hon. Udeme Ukpe (Secretary); Prince Ade Omole (Deputy Director II); Kasham Iliya (Deputy Director III); and Dr Ruqayya Ahmed (Secretary II). (NAN)
