Prominent Igbo political leader and founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has convened a high-level meeting of Igbo leaders and elites to strategise for the 2027 general elections and beyond.
The gathering scheduled for August is being organised under the auspices of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue. According to a letter of invitation to select leaders, the meeting aims to forge a united and purposeful political agenda for the Igbo nation, cutting across party lines.
“After a number of consultations, it became compelling that a select number of our leaders across political party lines and other critical stakeholders be invited to deliberate on what ought to be the agenda of Ndigbo in Nigerian politics, irrespective of political party affiliation,” Chief Okorie said in the invitation.
He highlighted the untapped political potential of the Igbo people, noting their vast population and geographical spread, which he said had not been effectively leveraged in national politics.
“God has blessed Ndigbo with a huge population and enviable geographical spread, which have remained largely untapped over the years. We have no excuse to lack relevance and well-deserved respect in Nigeria,” he stated.
While the 2027 elections are a key focus, Okorie stressed that the meeting’s goals are long-term and aimed at sustainable political relevance for the Igbo people.
“We owe ourselves and our younger generations the responsibility to provide the required guidance and chart a deliberate action plan to reverse our present unacceptable situation in a sustainable manner,” he said.
Although political in nature, Okorie emphasised that the meeting is non-partisan. “I wish to emphasise that this meeting is non-partisan even as the subject matter is political,” he added.
According to Jonathan Elendu, Executive Secretary of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, most of the invited participants have shown strong interest and confirmed their attendance.
The meeting is expected to bring together a diverse group of Igbo political figures, stakeholders, and thought leaders to develop a unified strategy for increased political relevance and influence within the Nigerian federation.
