By Ademola Adedoyin, fnipr
There is a compelling argument to be made for the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA), not merely as another political support group ahead of the 2027 general election, but as a potentially strategic platform for connecting governance, public communication and electoral accountability.
At a time when the Tinubu administration is approaching a critical phase of its first term, the initiative by the Forum to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid is not only timely but a political masterstroke. The initiative reflects an appreciation of a fundamental truth in democratic politics: governments must not only formulate and implement policies; they must also communicate their objectives, explain their outcomes and engage citizens whose lives those policies are intended to positively impact.
The Forum’s decision to organise its members around this objective is therefore timely, purposeful and strategically significant. It recognises that the task of communicating an administration’s record should not be left entirely to political party officials, campaign spokespersons and the traditional media machinery. Those who occupy strategic positions in the implementation of government policies also possess valuable knowledge, professional experience and institutional perspectives that can enrich national conversation and help amplify the government’s strides, accomplishments and vision for the future. This is the compelling rationale behind FORCEPA, and it is why the initiative deserves to be taken seriously.
One of the persistent challenges confronting governments is the gap between policy decisions, their implementation and the public’s understanding of their implications. A government may introduce reforms intended to address structural economic weaknesses, improve revenue generation, strengthen institutions or create a more sustainable foundation for development. Yet, unless the rationale for those decisions is properly communicated, citizens may struggle to understand their objectives, appreciate their long-term implications or distinguish between the immediate costs of adjustment and the anticipated long-term benefits.
This is particularly relevant to Nigeria under President Tinubu. Since assuming office in May 2023, the administration has embarked on major economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign-exchange market. These decisions have generated considerable debate, while their consequences have been felt unevenly across households, businesses and economic sectors. Supporters argue that the reforms address long-standing structural distortions. Critics, understandably, point to the hardship, rising cost of living and pressure on household incomes that have accompanied the adjustment.
In such an environment, effective communication is indispensable. Nigerians need to understand the anticipated benefits of their present sacrifices. But such communication must be more than the repetition of official statements or the celebration of policy announcements. It must explain what the government set out to achieve, what has been accomplished, what remains unfinished and how the reforms are translating into tangible benefits in the daily lives of Nigerians.
This is where FORCEPA can make a meaningful contribution. Its members occupy positions from which they can bring practical knowledge of public-sector programmes, institutional performance and implementation challenges into the campaign conversation. Properly coordinated, this experience can help the APC and the Presidential Campaign Council develop a more informed, evidence-based and credible presentation of the administration’s record. The Forum can therefore serve as a bridge between the government’s policy intentions, their implementation and the public’s understanding of its performance.
The timing of this initiative is particularly important. With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the political atmosphere is becoming increasingly competitive. The opposition is organising, public debate is intensifying, and competing narratives about the direction of the country are gaining traction. In this climate, an incumbent administration cannot afford to assume that its achievements will speak for themselves. Neither can it expect that the benefits of its policies will automatically be understood or acknowledged by the electorate. Political support is sustained not merely by the strength of a party’s organisation but also by its ability to present a convincing case for continuity, especially when the reforms have, no doubt, come with some pain. That case must be built around credible information, demonstrable outcomes and a clear explanation of what another term would make possible.
Particular commendation is due to the Forum’s Chairman, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation, for providing leadership to an initiative that seeks to organise this professional and political constituency around a common objective. The task of bringing together chief executives drawn from different federal agencies and parastatals requires coordination, persuasion and a clear appreciation of the strategic value of collective action. Dr Raji and his colleagues deserve recognition for identifying an opportunity to contribute beyond the routine administration of their respective organisations and for seeking a coordinated platform through which their experience can be brought to bear on the broader political conversation.
The contribution of Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, who chairs the Forum’s Media and Publicity Committee and serves as Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, is equally significant. With his extensive background in media, advertising and communications, Ajiboye brings an understanding of the relationship between information, public perception and political engagement. His experience is particularly relevant because contemporary election campaigns are fought on several fronts simultaneously. There is the conventional campaign of rallies, meetings and political consultations. There is the increasingly influential contest on television, radio, newspapers and digital platforms. And there is the equally important task of engaging citizens directly, listening to their concerns and responding with information they can understand and evaluate.
In a clear demonstration of the Presidency’s confidence in the initiative and its potential to advance its stated objectives, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief George Akume, is serving as the Patron of FORCEPA. Given his oversight responsibilities in relation to Federal Government agencies and parastatals, his association with the Forum lends the initiative institutional weight and underscores its strategic relevance. His position as Patron is also expected to facilitate the necessary high-level support and coordination as FORCEPA pursues its objectives, further reinforcing the significance attached to the initiative.
Another positive aspect of the initiative is its potential to complement the existing machinery of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. The Forum has presented itself as a structure that can provide additional technical, communication and grassroots support rather than compete with the established campaign organisation.
For an incumbent seeking re-election, the central argument is necessarily different from that of a challenger. A challenger can campaign principally on promises of a different direction. An incumbent must defend a record, explain difficult decisions, acknowledge shortcomings and persuade voters that the future under continued leadership offers a better prospect than the alternatives. FORCEPA has an opportunity to help the Tinubu campaign organise its case around verifiable achievements in areas such as infrastructure, fiscal and monetary policies, revenue administration, institutional reform, industrial development, public-sector innovation and other sectors within the responsibilities of federal agencies.
FORCEPA should ensure that its political activities are properly separated from the official functions of the agencies represented by its members. Participation must not compromise institutional neutrality where required, disrupt service delivery or create the impression that citizens must support a particular candidate to receive public services. These safeguards are not obstacles to the Forum’s objectives. They are essential to protecting its reputation and ensuring that its contribution remains legitimate and credible.
Ultimately, the success of FORCEPA should not be measured solely by the size of its membership, the sophistication of its communication strategy or the number of votes it hopes to mobilise for President Tinubu. Its effectiveness will also depend on whether it helps make the administration’s record clearer to the electorate, improves the quality of public engagement and encourages a more substantive conversation about Nigeria’s development.
The formation of FORCEPA represents an interesting and potentially valuable development in the political preparations for 2027. The real strength of FORCEPA will not lie merely in its ability to campaign for another presidential term, but in its capacity to connect the work of government with the understanding of citizens. If it succeeds in doing so — while respecting the boundaries of public service and maintaining a commitment to factual communication — it will have made a worthwhile contribution to the Tinubu campaign and to the quality of democratic engagement in Nigeria.
Ademola Adedoyin, fnipr, is an award-winning journalist and communication specialist.