As political attention across Nigeria begins to shift toward the 2027 general elections, early and organized grassroots mobilization is emerging as a decisive factor in the contest ahead.
In Kogi East, one figure taking deliberate steps in that direction is Ambassador Isaac Onuh, Nigeria’s former envoy to Botswana, who has launched a wide-reaching campaign aimed at securing continuity in governance and unified political representation for the zone.
Amb. Onuh’s effort is built around four central objectives, each targeting a different level of government ahead of 2027.
At the state level, he is canvassing for the re-election of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
According to Amb. Onuh, the Ododo administration has made notable strides in security, workers’ welfare, and rural development since taking office, and a second term would allow the governor to consolidate those gains across Kogi State.
At the federal level, Amb. Onuh is throwing his weight behind the continuation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He argues that the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” is a long-term economic reform programme that requires stability and time to fully deliver on infrastructure development and youth empowerment.
A change in leadership at this stage, he warns, risks disrupting the momentum of national progress already underway.
On the legislative front, Amb. Onuh is mobilizing support for the return of all sitting Kogi East members of the House of Representatives in 2027.
His argument is one of strength in unity: a cohesive delegation in the National Assembly, he says, will give Kogi East a louder voice and better access to federal projects and resources.
Rounding out his campaign is a push for Chief Erico Joseph Ameh to emerge as the Kogi East senatorial candidate in 2027.
Amb. Onuh describes Chief Ameh as a grassroots-oriented leader with a firm understanding of the needs of the zone’s nine local government areas, positioning him, in Amb. Onuh’s view, to effectively represent Kogi East in the Senate.
What distinguishes Amb. Onuh’s approach is its grassroots-first methodology. Rather than relying solely on elite political networks, he has been meeting directly with traditional rulers, party executives, and youth and women’s groups at the ward and village level across the zone, with his outreach beginning in Omala Local Government Area.
His message to these groups has remained consistent: alignment with the political center, unity of purpose, and continuity in leadership will translate into more development for Kogi East.
Observers say the timing of the campaign — well over a year ahead of the 2027 polls — reflects a broader trend among political actors seeking to lock in support early, before the formal campaign season narrows the window for grassroots engagement.
For Amb. Onuh, the underlying philosophy is that productive politics starts from the grassroots.
His campaign, he says, is ultimately about building consensus early and strengthening the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in Kogi East, with the goal of delivering votes for President Tinubu, Governor Ododo, all APC House of Representatives candidates, and Chief Erico Joseph Ameh for the Senate when the 2027 elections arrive.
