……Coalition pledges grassroots mobilisation, community engagement and civil society partnerships ahead of 2027 elections
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance (CCSOGG) has announced its decision to establish a Civil Society Mobilisation and Contact Group to galvanise support for the emergence of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, as the next Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
In a Statement released and signed by it’s Secretary, Comrade Olalekan Johnson, the Coalition said the initiative was informed by its assessment of Governor Abiodun’s record in public service, infrastructure development, investment promotion, education, healthcare and economic growth, which it believes provides a strong basis for his transition from the governorship to the National Assembly.
The proposed mobilisation group will serve as a platform for engaging community-based organisations, professional associations, development advocates and other civil society stakeholders across the nine local government areas that make up Ogun East Senatorial District.
According to the Coalition, the initiative reflects its conviction that Ogun East requires experienced, development-oriented and strategically positioned representation capable of advancing the district’s interests at the federal level.
The Coalition disclosed that the mobilisation initiative would focus on grassroots consultations, stakeholder engagement, public enlightenment and the development of a broad-based network of civil society supporters committed to promoting its preferred senatorial candidate.
“We believe that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s experience in managing the affairs of Ogun State, his exposure to national economic policy and his understanding of the development challenges confronting our communities position him to make meaningful contributions to Ogun East in the Senate,” the Coalition stated.
The Coalition noted that Governor Abiodun’s tenure since 2019 has been characterised by interventions in road infrastructure, education, healthcare, transportation, industrial development and investment promotion.
It particularly highlighted the administration’s road construction programme, which the Ogun State Government reported had delivered more than 1,600 kilometres of roads across the state by February 2026. The Coalition believes that improved road connectivity has the potential to strengthen commerce, facilitate agricultural activities and improve access to public services.
It also identified the development of the Gateway International Airport at Iperu-Remo, efforts to attract industrial investments and plans for the proposed Gateway Deep-Sea Port in Ogun Waterside as important economic initiatives with potential implications for the future of Ogun East.
The Coalition argued that these projects, if successfully sustained and expanded, could strengthen the district’s economic importance, stimulate private-sector investment and create employment opportunities for young people.
It further acknowledged the administration’s interventions in education, healthcare and youth empowerment, stressing that sustainable development requires a combination of physical infrastructure, human-capital investment and policies that improve the economic circumstances of ordinary citizens.
According to the Coalition, these achievements constitute important considerations in assessing Governor Abiodun’s suitability for a legislative role.
While acknowledging that the responsibilities of a governor differ from those of a senator, CCSOGG maintained that executive experience could provide a valuable foundation for effective legislative representation, particularly in promoting policies and federal interventions that address the needs of Ogun East.
The Coalition observed that Ogun East is strategically positioned to benefit from stronger federal engagement because of its industrial, agricultural, commercial and coastal economic potential.
It identified infrastructure financing, youth employment, industrial expansion, rural development, coastal economic activities, healthcare delivery and educational opportunities as priority areas requiring sustained attention.
The Coalition expressed the expectation that Governor Abiodun, if elected to the Senate, would leverage his experience and relationships within government to advocate for federal projects, attract development-oriented interventions and strengthen cooperation between federal institutions and communities across the district.
It also expressed optimism that his familiarity with the district’s development priorities would enable him to pursue legislative initiatives supporting local businesses, agricultural producers, young entrepreneurs and other productive sectors.
CCSOGG specifically identified the proposed Gateway Deep-Sea Port and associated economic development plans in Ogun Waterside as projects whose successful realisation could generate wider opportunities for the district. It stressed, however, that such anticipated benefits would depend on sustained implementation, effective representation and cooperation between the state and federal governments.
The Coalition maintained that a senatorial mandate for Abiodun could provide an opportunity to consolidate ongoing development initiatives and pursue additional federal interventions for Ogun East.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposed Civil Society Mobilisation and Contact Group, the Coalition said electoral participation should extend beyond political party structures to include citizens, community organisations and development-focused groups.
It disclosed that the group would provide a coordinated platform for communicating the Coalition’s position on Governor Abiodun’s senatorial ambition while engaging stakeholders on the development priorities of Ogun East.
Among the proposed activities are consultations with community-based organisations, town hall meetings, engagements with professional and trade associations, youth and women’s forums, public policy discussions and media enlightenment programmes.
The initiative will also seek to encourage discussions about the relationship between effective representation, legislative accountability and the delivery of development dividends to constituents.
The Coalition said its mobilisation approach would emphasise issue-based engagement, peaceful democratic participation and respect for the choices of voters.
It added that civil society organisations have an important role to play in helping citizens evaluate candidates on the basis of experience, public service records, development proposals and the capacity to deliver on electoral commitments.
CCSOGG expressed its determination to work with willing community and civil society partners across Ogun East to build a broad network of support for Abiodun’s candidacy.
The Coalition formally declared its support for Governor Abiodun’s senatorial ambition, describing his proposed entry into the National Assembly as an opportunity to bring his executive experience to bear on legislative representation.
It said its decision was based on its assessment of his record in governance and the development opportunities that effective representation could help unlock for Ogun East.
“The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance hereby declares its support for the senatorial ambition of Governor Dapo Abiodun and announces its determination to mobilise community-based organisations, professional associations, youth groups, women’s organisations and other willing civil society stakeholders in support of his aspiration.
“Our objective is to build a credible, organised and issue-driven civil society network that will engage the people of Ogun East on the importance of effective representation and the opportunities available to the district through a senator with substantial executive experience.
“We are convinced that Ogun East deserves representation capable of combining legislative responsibilities with strategic engagement, development advocacy and constructive partnerships with relevant institutions of government,” the Coalition stated.
The organisation emphasised that its support would be pursued through peaceful mobilisation, public engagement and democratic advocacy, with a focus on development priorities affecting the people of the district.
It also expressed confidence that the proposed contact group would help establish stronger connections between civil society organisations and communities across Ogun East, enabling them to participate more actively in conversations about the district’s political and economic future.
CCSOGG urged stakeholders across Ogun East to assess the forthcoming senatorial contest through the lens of development, accountability, experience and the capacity to attract meaningful opportunities to their communities.
It stressed that effective representation should be measured not merely by political visibility but by a senator’s ability to sponsor relevant legislation, scrutinise public expenditure, advocate constituency priorities and work with other levels of government to improve the lives of citizens.
The Coalition expressed the hope that the 2027 elections would provide Ogun East with an opportunity to strengthen its voice in national affairs and pursue development priorities capable of improving the welfare of residents across the district.
It reiterated its commitment to mobilising willing civil society and community-based partners in support of Governor Abiodun’s ambition, while encouraging issue-based political participation and peaceful democratic engagement.
The Coalition concluded that its proposed Civil Society Mobilisation and Contact Group would form an important part of its efforts to promote the candidacy it considers capable of advancing the interests of Ogun East.
“We are prepared to engage, mobilise and build partnerships around our conviction that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s experience can be an asset to Ogun East in the Senate. Our commitment is to make a constructive contribution to the democratic process and to advocate for representation that places development, accountability and the welfare of the people at the centre of public service,” the Coalition declared.