No More Improvisation, APC Must Be Structured — Uzodimma

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, on Tuesday declared that the All Progressives Congress must abandon improvisation and embrace a disciplined, institutional structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Uzodimma spoke at the PGF–Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit held at the State House Conference Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he warned that a widening communication gap was weakening the political gains of ongoing reforms by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We have chosen structure over improvisation, discipline over fragmentation, and philosophy over expediency,” Uzodimma said, stressing that mobilisation must move from personality-driven enthusiasm to institutionalised systems.

He noted that while the Tinubu administration had recorded measurable macroeconomic and structural gains, many Nigerians were yet to internalise or fully appreciate the outcomes due to what he described as communication shortcomings within the party.

“The problem is not policy failure. The problem is a communication failure. And that failure is on us,” he said.

Uzodinma listed improvements in foreign reserves, inflation, oil production, power generation and fiscal allocations to states, arguing that the reforms were beginning to yield results.

According to him, Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose from $32bn in May 2023 to $49bn as of February 2026, while inflation declined from 22.4 per cent in May 2023 to 15.15 per cent by December 2025.

He also cited increased oil production levels, the operational status of the Dangote Refinery, the rise in national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, expanded student loan disbursements under NELFUND, and recent tax reforms aimed at protecting low-income earners and incentivising businesses.

Despite these indicators, Uzodimma said perception gaps persisted at the grassroots level.

“Policy success without citizen understanding creates perception gaps. And perception gaps weaken democratic legitimacy,” he warned.

The PGF chairman identified four major weaknesses within the party’s mobilisation structure: fragmented communication, weak institutional grassroots templates, inconsistent membership expansion strategy, and role ambiguity between party organs and support platforms.

He insisted that the summit was convened to close those gaps through “architecture, not rhetoric.”

Uzodimma outlined five key outcomes expected from the meeting: ideological consolidation around the APC manifesto; adoption of a unified messaging guide; institutionalised grassroots engagement formats; accelerated and measurable membership drive; and a monitoring and reporting framework with defined timelines.

He further unveiled a “three-pillar architecture” for party mobilisation comprising the Renewed Hope Ambassadors structure, government information machinery led by Commissioners for Information, and formal APC party structures at state and ward levels.

Uzodimma acknowledged what he described as growing enthusiasm across the country for President Tinubu’s re-election bid but cautioned that spontaneous support groups must align with official party structures.

He said all groups must be screened and harmonised to prevent conflicting messaging.

“Coordination does not stifle enthusiasm; it amplifies effectiveness,” he stated.

The governor announced that within 14 days, a unified messaging guide and summit communiqué would be circulated nationwide. Within 30 days, state-level alignment meetings would be held, while ward-level engagement templates and harmonised membership drives would commence within 60 days.

Quarterly performance reviews would also be instituted to track mobilisation growth and communication coherence.

Uzodimma reaffirmed the Progressive Governors’ support for Tinubu’s reform direction, stating that the administration had chosen “long-term national interest over short-term applause.”

“When we leave this hall today, let it not be said that we merely attended a summit. Let it be said that we institutionalised a framework,” he added.

The summit was attended by governors, members of the National Assembly, Federal Executive Council members and party officials.

End.