The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, has inaugurated a political support group, As Tinubu and Mbah Move (ATM), as part of efforts to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group was officially unveiled on Saturday in Enugu, with a mandate to mobilise voters across the state’s 4,145 polling units through a combination of technology, voter engagement and grassroots political structures.
The inauguration brought together Governor Mbah, APC leaders, political stakeholders, traditional rulers and members of the group, with speakers calling for stronger support for the President and the Enugu State governor in the forthcoming elections.
Mbah Calls for Strategic Political Alliances
Speaking at the event, Mbah urged the people of the South-East to adopt a strategic approach to national politics by building political alliances beyond the region.
He recalled the political alignments of the First and Second Republics, particularly those involving Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr Michael Okpara, as examples of how cooperation across regional boundaries could advance the interests of the Igbo.
The governor argued that supporting Tinubu’s re-election would give the South-East an opportunity to strengthen its political relevance and deepen its participation in national governance.
He described Tinubu as a unifier and defended the President’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange regime, saying they demonstrated the political courage required to address longstanding structural challenges.
Mbah acknowledged that the reforms initially imposed difficulties on citizens but argued that they were necessary to restore macroeconomic stability, rebuild confidence in the economy and attract private capital and foreign investment.
He also cited Federal Government infrastructure interventions in the South-East, including the improved Enugu-Onitsha highway, the ongoing Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway project and the concessioning of Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
According to the governor, the airport concession would strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness, particularly with the planned commencement of cargo operations and direct flights between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, before the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Udeh Positions ATM as a Data-Driven Political Platform
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Udeh said ATM would deploy technology and innovation to improve political organisation, membership management and grassroots mobilisation.
He disclosed that the group had established an innovation situation room and digital dashboard to monitor membership registration, recruitment and voter mobilisation across polling units.
The minister said the platform would replace unverified membership claims with a credible database, allowing the group to measure its activities and provide verifiable reports.
He added that Governor Mbah would have direct access to the dashboard to monitor the group’s progress.
Udeh described the initiative as an expression of appreciation and loyalty to the governor, pledging that ATM would deliver measurable support for APC candidates at all elective levels, particularly Tinubu.
APC Leaders Endorse Mobilisation Drive
The APC National Vice Chairman, South-East Zone, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, commended Mbah for his developmental strides and efforts to coordinate the party’s presidential campaign activities in the region.
Arodiogbu also praised Udeh for establishing the support group and urged South-East residents to support Tinubu’s re-election, while calling on Enugu voters to back Mbah and other APC candidates.
He argued that the South-East should support the President because, in his view, Tinubu understood the importance of rewarding political loyalty and support.
The Enugu State Coordinator of ATM, Ugwuoke Onyebuchi, said the group comprised largely individuals who had previously been active in civil society rather than partisan politics.
He said their decision to mobilise support for Tinubu and Mbah was informed by their confidence in Udeh and their conviction that they could contribute to the state’s political and developmental direction.
Ugwuoke added that the group would undertake grassroots mobilisation, voter education and community engagement, using technology and data-driven strategies to identify and engage voters.
The inauguration climaxed with the swearing-in of ATM members and executives at the state and local government levels by the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu.
