Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and ex‑militant leader Tompolo forge grassroots alliance for Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election bid

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, met with High Chief Government Ekpemupolo – widely known as Tompolo – in Abuja on 25 October 2026. The meeting followed the commissioning of the national secretariat of the PBAT Door‑to‑Door Movement, a campaign initiative aimed at taking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message directly to households. Both participants described the encounter as a strategic planning session for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it prepares for the 2027 presidential election.

Acting in his capacity as Deputy Director‑General, South II, for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Kalu detailed a collaborative strategy focused on engaging the youth, educating voters, and driving mobilisation at the community level. Informants indicated that the primary objective is to strengthen APC backing within the South‑South and South‑East regions, placing specific emphasis on coordinating efforts at the ward level within the jurisdictions managed by the South II Directorate.

Background

The PBAT Door‑to‑Door Movement was launched earlier in the week, with its national secretariat inaugurated in Abuja. The movement is positioned by Kalu as a critical vehicle for the 2027 project, emphasizing that electoral success will be decided at the polling‑unit and household level. Tompolo, a former militant leader who now convokes the movement, provided resources and organisational capacity for the secretariat’s establishment.

During the commissioning, Kalu highlighted several administration programmes that he said underpin the campaign’s narrative. Among these initiatives were the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides monetary aid to qualified individuals studying at tertiary institutions, alongside the establishment of regional development commissions. Furthermore, he commended President Tinubu for approving the South‑East Development Commission Act, characterising this legislative move as a pathway to rebuilding infrastructure and fostering growth in the region, especially benefiting Kalu’s Bende Federal Constituency.

According to both Leadership and ThisDay, Kalu characterised the current administration as one defined by decisive, reform-oriented actions that are currently stabilising the economic landscape and ensuring national security. The alliance with Tompolo was presented as strategic for extending the “Renewed Hope” agenda to every doorstep.

Why it matters

The collaboration targets the APC’s core voter base in the South‑South and South‑East, regions that are pivotal for Tinubu’s re‑election prospects. The campaign seeks to gain community-level approval by rallying support throughout the 774 local government areas and 8,809 wards, a strategy intended to convert local backing into electoral success on a national scale. Youth engagement and voter sensitisation are highlighted as essential components, reflecting the demographic’s growing political influence.

Kalu’s emphasis on the PBAT Door‑to‑Door Movement underscores the administration’s reliance on direct voter contact rather than traditional mass rallies. If successful, the approach could reinforce Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” narrative and bolster the APC’s standing amid competition from opposition parties. The involvement of a high‑profile figure like Tompolo, who commands significant influence in the Niger Delta, may also sway communities that have historically been skeptical of federal initiatives.

What happens next

The sources indicate that the APC will continue to develop the joint operational framework outlined at the meeting, with activities slated for the ward level across the South II states. No specific dates for subsequent events were provided, but the campaign’s momentum is expected to build as the 2027 election draws nearer. Both the Leadership and Punch reports suggest that the movement will intensify its grassroots outreach, leveraging the newly commissioned secretariat as a coordination hub.

The alliance’s effectiveness will likely be assessed through its ability to mobilise volunteers, conduct voter education and translate these efforts into measurable support during the election cycle.