By Adamu Yusuf
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has urged candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to intensify grassroots mobilisation and engage directly with voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Senator Makarfi said electoral victory depended on candidates’ ability to build strong relationships with communities, understand the needs of the people and earn their confidence, rather than relying solely on party structures.
He made the appeal on Thursday during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Council, the commissioning of the party’s campaign office in Kaduna, and a stakeholders’ meeting for Zone Two. The former governor also formally flagged off the party’s campaign activities.
Makarfi cautioned the candidates against disregarding electoral laws and established guidelines, stressing that anyone seeking elective office must be willing to abide by the rules governing the electoral process.
He maintained that although political power ultimately comes from God, the electorate determines who occupies public office through the ballot.
“If you insist on having things your own way, then you are not ready to participate in an election. But if you want to contest an election, you must be prepared to accept and work within those rules. God gives power, but the people vote,” he said.
Also speaking, the PDP governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Hon. Shehu Usman Bawa, popularly known as ABG, pledged to adopt a bottom-up approach to governance if elected in the February 2027 governorship election.
Bawa explained that the party had embarked on public engagement through television and radio programmes, as well as direct interactions with communities, to communicate its proposed policies and understand the concerns of residents.
He disclosed that the party had prepared a draft manifesto that remained open to public contributions, adding that suggestions and concerns raised by residents through its media engagements would be considered in the final document.
“Our approach in governance will be a bottom-up approach. We’re reaching out directly to the masses to know what exactly they want,” he said.
In his remarks, the Kaduna State PDP Chairman, Hon. Edward Masha, criticised the APC-led administration, accusing it of failing to adequately address insecurity, unemployment, rising living costs and what he described as the deterioration of education and healthcare services in the state.
Masha expressed confidence that the alleged challenges had created dissatisfaction among residents and increased their desire for a change of government ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also dismissed claims that Kaduna State lacked an effective opposition, alleging that the last local government elections in the state were not credible.
The PDP chairman, however, stressed that opposition politics should be driven by constructive criticism, public accountability and peaceful democratic participation rather than violence.
Masha called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain impartial and ensure a level playing field for all political parties during the 2027 electoral process.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to mobilising voters across the state, expressing optimism that its grassroots engagement and proposed governance agenda would secure the support of the electorate.
Editing by Khadija Kubau
