The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has commenced the process of harmonising over 3,000 support groups campaigning for him ahead of the 2023 elections.
The development, which is coming barely 10 days into the political campaign season, was confirmed by the media team of the Bola Tinubu-Kashim Shettima 2023 presidential campaign group.
Earlier, the Director of Media and Communications of Tinubu Support Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, stated that his principal would focus on an issue-based campaign and not succumb to antics, mudslinging and image-smearing sentiments launched at him or his running mate.
He also confirmed that they had begun a move to streamline all the various support groups routing for Tinubu’s presidency.
This position was re-echoed by another member of the media and communication directorate of Bola Tinubu-Kashim Shettima 2023 presidential campaign, Biodun Ajiboye.
Ajiboye told our correspondent that all support groups, which were well over three thousand, were registered formally under the Tinubu Support Organisation.
“There are several wings of the campaign and each one has its role and niche, which the campaign is expected to take care of,” he said.
On how the TSO expected to manage such huge groups without friction, the public relations expert disclosed that the process was structured in a way to avert any conflict of interest.
He said, “In so far as they are registered with relevant certificates, there can’t be conflict. Besides, it should be noted that support groups following Asiwaju are in two to three major camps. As I speak to you, there is a group called ‘Council for New Nigeria Initiative’ under Senator Abu Ibrahim that has 650 registered groups.
“There is another camp called the TLG under Hon. James Faleke has over 1,000 member groups.”
While acknowledging that a former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has his own support groups, Ajiboye noted that Tinubu had empowered Senator Abu Ibrahim to manage the support groups under a certain platform called ‘Grassroots mobilisation.’
This is even as he maintained that their job is to merge the support groups before the political campaign kicks off on September 28.
“You need to wait for another couple of weeks to see how it spans out. Right now, it is still in the formative stage. Once it is concluded, everything will fall in place,” he stated.
Ajiboye also told the reporter that the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council was complete.
He said, “We are only waiting for the announcement. I am sure it will be announced in a couple of days or a week maximum.”
