By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, has urged coordinators of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) 2.0 to intensify grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Opeifa made the call on Thursday, 17 September, 2026, while delivering a keynote address at the inauguration of SWAGA 2.0 coordinators for Lagos’ 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.
He said the coordinators must leverage their knowledge of their communities to engage residents, understand their concerns and mobilise them to participate in the electoral process.
According to him, electoral victories are determined by votes, stressing that mobilisation must begin well before election day.
“Nobody knows your area better than you. Nobody knows the people in your area better than you,” Opeifa said.
He urged the coordinators to shed any sense of entitlement and work directly with residents, noting that effective mobilisation required engagement, persuasion and cooperation at the grassroots.
Opeifa also expressed concern about voter turnout in Lagos, saying the state’s large voter population had not translated sufficiently into votes.
He challenged the coordinators to improve participation in their respective communities and ensure that registered voters were mobilised to exercise their franchise.
Reflecting on SWAGA’s previous mobilisation efforts, Opeifa said the group had played a role in building support for President Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
He said SWAGA 2.0 should build on that experience by establishing stronger structures, deepening community engagement and sustaining mobilisation across the state.
The NRC boss further urged the coordinators to communicate government programmes and achievements to residents while also listening to their concerns.
He stressed that no individual or group could achieve its political objectives alone, urging members to work collectively and maintain close contact with communities.
Opeifa said the effectiveness of SWAGA 2.0 would depend on the commitment of its coordinators to grassroots engagement and their ability to translate mobilisation into increased voter participation.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of SWAGA, Honourable Monsuru Owolabi urged the newly inaugurated coordinates to take the mobilisation drive to the grassroots.
“We should ensure that we go into the nooks and crannies of the communities and mobilise people to come and vote for Asiwaju and all candidates of APC,” Owolabi said in a statement delivered on his behalf by Honourable Lanre Odubote.
The Secretary of the group in Lagos, Honourable Hakeem Abiodun Muniru stated that the inauguration of the coordinator’s signalled the commencement of vigorous grassroots mobilisation for the party.
Addressing the coordinators, Muniru, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II, said, “you were picked based on your antecedent, hence it becomes imperative for you to deliver”.
The inauguration is part of SWAGA 2.0’s efforts to strengthen its structures across Lagos’ 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs ahead of the 2027 elections.
