POLITICS

2023: Youths Commence Grassroots Mobilisation, Awareness For Peter Obi

A nationwide mass movement is underway among young Nigerians across the country to mobilize grassroots awareness and support for Peter Obi as their preferred choice for President of Nigeria. 

In what is shaping to be the most intensely contested election in the history of Nigeria, strategies are being implemented across the country to ensure either Abubakar Atiku or Bola Ahmed Tinubu or Peter Obi emerges the winner of the February 2023 general election.

Most young Nigerians, who now see Peter Obi as a “third force” and a candidate for the youth and for anyone who is against the current establishment in the country, are however stepping up strategies to seize a budding social media momentum for his candidacy.

A cross-section of young Nigerians unhappy that the two major political parties, PDP and APC, chose former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and a prominent political godfather, APC Leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as respective flagbearers, are mounting a strategic offensive to galvanize Nigerians to take to the poll and vote Peter Obi as their choice.

They believe this is the only way to defeat an establishment with solid political structures that have won countless elections especially when there is political apathy.

A plethora of viral videos and messages on the social media sighted by NewsBeatng reveal thousands of youths across the country mobilizing to get their PVCs (Permanent Voters Card). There are also debates across online platforms on what is the best strategy to deliver what will be the greatest upset in Nigerian politics.

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Ideas around how to use electronic and analogue media to reach a wider audience, breaking language and religious barriers, grassroots door-to-door campaigning, volunteering and even shaping the appeal of Peter Obi as a candidate for not just the South by the Northern Part of the country are all under various stages of consideration by some of the volunteers.

In a well-attended Twitter Spaces discussion, monitored by NewsBeatng yesterday (Saturday) which had over 60,000 people tuning in, and an average of 5,000 people listening every minute for over three hours, speakers were heard sharing ideas on what strategies could best help win the election for Peter Obi. The Spaces was hosted by respected social media influencer and tech lawyer, Modupe “Moe” Odele @moechievous and used the hashtag #MyPeterObi to help manage trends. 

Part of the strategies deliberated are; breaking language barriers particularly in Northern Nigeria by creating more messaging in the local dialect of people in their communities and villages. 

Some spoke about the ambiguity of the Labour Party logo which they felt is not easily recognizable by most Nigerians.  

They also spoke about building a mass movement of volunteers across local governments in the country, some of whom will form the basis for manning polling units as party agents. 

Some speakers also spoke about leveraging voter data and information to create statistical patterns that will provide the right intelligence for effective strategic decision-making. 

Peter Obi wasn’t the only person they talked about. They also discussed mobilizing support for other candidates in the labour party who can be allies for Peter Obi in government if he eventually wins the presidency.  

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They also discussed how to mobilize funds with the same efficiency that was utilized during the EndSars campaign where thousands of Nigerians donated funds to sustain the protests. 

Ensuring there is food for potential voters was also a major talking point as some believed not addressing the immediate needs of electorates who do not have food on their table could torpedo any good intention anyone has.

Some student leaders who spoke highlighted mobilization for PVCs, especially for Nigerians who just turned 18 and were ineligible to vote in the last election. Most of them are staying at home due to the ASUU strike and strategists on the call saw this pool as a major force for Peter Obi. 

Subsequent tweets following the end of the Spaces indicate it may have helped stimulate passion and enthusiasm for the work ahead while some even requested for the Twitter Spaces to be held weekly to allow people to share more ideas and feedback on the state of affairs in their respective zones.

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