From Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha

Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) has expressed concern over alleged reluctance of candidates of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) claiming to be working with All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra state for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election to display his photograph on their campaign materials.

State Coordinator, RHA, Chief Okey Ezenwa who disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of meeting of Zonal/Local Government Area Coordinators of the group also alleged that the candidates scarcely mention Tinubu’s name during their campaigns.

Ezenwa described the development as not only a misrepresention, but misleading and unacceptable, warning that the group would not accept what he termed ‘form of covert or “closet”’ support for the President.

He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to strengthening its grassroots structures and coordinating its political engagements ahead of the forthcoming general election.

“The meeting maintained that political support for Tinubu should be demonstrated openly and consistently, particularly by candidates who claim to be aligned with the President’s political aspiration ahead of the 2027 general election.

“The RHA leadership declared that its Anambra State structure had established an extensive grassroots mobilisation network to canvass support for Tinubu across the state.

“The organisation has 25 canvassers in each of the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State, a structure which it said translated into a potential mobilisation strength of 143,000 canvassers,” he said.

Acknowledging that the network was part of the organisation’s efforts to build grassroots support for the President’s re-election, Ezenwa disclosed that the state chapter had put in place structures to coordinate its political activities across the 21 local government areas and 326 wards in the State.

“Renewed Hope Ambassadors is fully prepared and ready for the January 16, 2027 presidential election as evident in our organisational structures.

“The structures include 21 LGA coordinators, 326 ward coordinators, an 11-member Local Government Committee of Local Government Ambassadors and a 10-member ward steering committee.

“The structures will operate alongside the wider network of supporters and families of members of the organisation to strengthen its mobilisation activities across the state,” the communique read.

Meanwhile, Ezenwa announced the group’s plans to convene a strategic meeting with all APC candidates contesting National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats in Anambra State.

The proposed engagement, according to the communiqué, is intended to establish a clear political direction and strengthen collaboration between the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

The group expressed worry over what it described as apparent inactivity of the APC state chapter, noting the need for a coordinated political strategy that would enable the party’s candidates and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to work towards clearly defined objectives.

It called for stronger cooperation among its coordinators and other political stakeholders to ensure effective mobilisation and coordination ahead of the forthcoming elections.