By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi Central Senatorial District has officially commenced preparations for the 2027 general elections by appointing Dr. Salami Etudaiye as the Director-General of its campaign organization, alongside Abubakar Karaku as Campaign Chairman.
The duo were inaugurated during a stakeholders’ meeting of the campaign organization held under the leadership of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The announcement was disclosed in a statement released on Monday night by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s media aide, Mike Idoko.
The newly inaugurated campaign executive includes Jacob Anebe as Secretary, Ilyasu Zubair as Head of Operations, Isiaka Uhuanaye as Head of Technicals, and Jane Onoba as Head of Welfare.
Mandated to execute an aggressive grassroots mobilization strategy, the campaign structure aims to deliver victory for all PDP candidates across the senatorial district.
Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan charged the team to work tirelessly and keep the party’s campaign firmly rooted in the grassroots, moving beyond conventional rallies to direct voter engagement.
“This campaign must be house-to-house and polling unit-by-polling unit. We must reach our people directly, listen to them, engage them and explain clearly why the PDP remains the best platform for the development and progress of our people,” Akpoti-Uduaghan stated.
She further emphasized inclusivity and unit-by-unit coverage regardless of past political differences, urging campaigners to show discipline, unity, and commitment.
“We must open our doors for everyone who wants to join this moving train and this winning team. There is room for everyone who believes in the PDP and in the future we are building for Kogi Central,” she added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that the election would require the collective efforts of party leaders, women, youths, ward executives, campaign coordinators, volunteers, and all other stakeholders.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Salami Etudaiye described his appointment as a sacred responsibility, pledging to deploy his experience, energy, and organizational capacity toward delivering victory.
“I stand before you today with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit on fire. I accept, with humility and with steely resolve, the sacred responsibility you have placed upon me as Director-General of this campaign,” Etudaiye declared.
Emphasizing that his mandate was to construct a formidable political structure across the senatorial district rather than hold a mere title, Etudaiye set a firm tone for the organization.
“This is not a ceremonial title. This is a call to battle. I did not accept this assignment to manage a campaign of polite handshakes and quiet meetings. I accepted it to organise a movement,” he said.
He announced that campaign operations would cover every part of Kogi Central including Okene, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, and Ogori-Magongo Local Government Areas with specific concentration on wards, polling units, streets, markets, campuses, and individual households.
“We are not going into this election to beg. We are going in to win and to win decisively,” Etudaiye stated.
Calling on party members to unite behind the organization, Etudaiye stressed that success would rely heavily on mobilization, discipline, and structural coordination. He urged women and youths to step forward into active roles, describing women as the backbone of the party and youths as indispensable to modern political mobilization.
“I pledge to lead this organisation with transparency, with competence, and with an unrelenting focus on victory. I will listen. I will coordinate. I will fight for every vote,” he pledged.
“This is not just a campaign. This is a revolution of hope for Kogi Central. I accept this charge. I embrace this duty. And by the grace of God and the collective will of our people, we shall prevail,” Etudaiye concluded.
Also addressing the gathering, Campaign Chairman Abubakar Karaku congratulated the appointees and urged all PDP stakeholders to place party and public interests above personal considerations.
Karaku called for unity, peaceful political engagement, and positive campaigning while cautioning against bitterness, personal attacks, and divisive rhetoric. He charged ward leaders, polling-unit coordinators, youth and women leaders, volunteers, and campaign operatives to operate strictly as one cohesive team.
“Nobody should consider himself or herself too important to work with another person. Every vote matters, every ward matters and every polling unit matters. If we remain united, disciplined and focused, we can achieve the victory we desire,” Karaku stated.
“This is the time for every member of our great party to come together. We must put aside whatever differences we may have and concentrate on the larger objective of building a stronger PDP and securing victory for our candidates,” he noted.
Karaku urged party workers to take their message directly to the grassroots, engaging voters through clear policy programs, past achievements, and the forward-looking vision of the party.
“Our message must be positive, our conduct must be responsible, and our mobilisation must be strategic. We must convince the people through our programmes, our commitment and our presence at the grassroots. Elections are won by organisation, unity and the ability to connect with the people,” Karaku stated.
