Independent Reporters Network IR

08/10/2026

SSPYM HOLDS STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT WITH PRESIDENTIAL SSA ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (SOUTH-SOUTH) AHEAD OF SOUTH SOUTH YOUTH AND WOMEN STAKEHOLDERS DIALOGUE 2026

Abuja, 8th October, 2026 — As part of its ongoing consultations and stakeholder engagements across the South-South region, the South South Progressive Youth Movement (SSPYM) today held a strategic engagement with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), Hon. Gift Johnbull, at the State House, Aso Villa, Abuja.

The National Convener and Director General of SSPYM, Okuku (Apostle) Nelson Joseph Hensley, was accompanied on the visit by the National Deputy Secretary of SSPYM, Mrs. Patience Gesiere June.

The engagement was aimed at formally consulting with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant, presenting the relevant documents on the proposed South-South Youth and Women Stakeholders Dialogue 2027, and exploring opportunities for institutional collaboration, strategic partnership and support for the regional initiative.

During the engagement, the SSPYM delegation highlighted the objectives of the proposed Dialogue, which is designed to bring together youth and women leaders, community stakeholders and grassroots representatives from across the six South-South states for constructive conversations on democratic participation, peace, development, responsible leadership and inclusive governance.

The delegation also emphasised the importance of strengthening communication and collaboration between grassroots stakeholders in the South-South region and relevant institutions of the Federal Government.

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South) was therefore briefed on the proposed programme and invited to participate in the continuing stakeholder consultation process towards the successful convening of the Dialogue.

The engagement forms part of SSPYM's broader regional consultation strategy ahead of the South-South Youth and Women Stakeholders Dialogue 2027, proposed to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in November 2027.

The SSPYM leadership expressed appreciation to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant for receiving the delegation and for the opportunity to present the organisation's proposal and engage on issues of mutual regional interest.

Reported by:
IRN Desk / SSPYM Media & Public Communication Unit
Abuja
TopFans

03/10/2026

LABOUR PARTY YOUTH LEADERS ENDORSE TINUBU, OPEN TALKS ON APC ALIGNMENT, CITY BOY MOVEMENT AHEAD OF 2027

By INDEPENDENT REPORTERS NETWORK (IRN)
DESK REPORT
3rd October, 2026

Abuja, Nigeria — Youth leaders of the Labour Party (LP) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election and commenced moves towards political engagement with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and groups supporting the President.

The development followed a virtual meeting involving the Labour Party National Youth Leader, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, five National Zonal Youth Leaders and State Youth Leaders from 32 states.

The meeting reviewed the political direction of the Labour Party, the future of youth participation and the experiences of the party's youth constituency before and after the 2023 general elections.

The participants reportedly expressed concerns over the prolonged internal crisis within the Labour Party and what they described as inadequate recognition, engagement and support for young members who contributed to the party's 2023 presidential campaign.

The youth leaders also reviewed the policies and programmes of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including youth empowerment, human capital development, economic reforms, infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, security and workers' welfare.

Following the deliberations, the youth leaders endorsed President Tinubu and mandated Prince Kennedy Ahanotu to commence consultations with relevant stakeholders in the APC, Renewed Hope Movement, City Boy Movement and Tinubu Support Groups on the modalities for political cooperation and alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The consultation process is expected to facilitate broader engagement between the Labour Party youth structure and pro-Tinubu political organisations, with the objective of establishing areas of cooperation and a coordinated political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.

The youth leaders also expressed confidence in Ahanotu's leadership and asked him to lead the engagement process while ensuring broad-based consultation and consensus among Labour Party youth leaders.

A physical convergence of Labour Party youth leaders in Abuja is expected to follow the consultations, where the outcome of the engagements and further steps will be reviewed.

The development comes amid continuing divisions within the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 elections, with rival factions pursuing different political and organisational directions.

IRN Desk Report
Political Intelligence Unit
Abuja

03/10/2026

SOUTH SOUTH PROGRESSIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT (SSPYM)

SSPYM invites young people and women across the South-South region to register their membership and become part of a structured platform committed to empowerment, development, leadership, civic participation and grassroots engagement.

Operating with the alliance and with the support of Office of the APC National Women Leader, the Movement works within its stated mandate of strengthening grassroots engagement and advancing the objectives associated with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Membership provides an opportunity to participate in leadership development, community engagement, empowerment initiatives and organized grassroots activities.
Register. Get Involved. Build Capacity.

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03/10/2026

MEET DR. MRS. MARY OBOT,
NATIONAL SECRETARY, SOUTH SOUTH PROGRESSIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT ( SSPYM)

An astute administrator par excellence, a hardworking woman of God, and a dedicated, disciplined and quintessential leader, Dr. Mrs. Mary Obot continues to distinguish herself through commitment, humility and purposeful service.

She is a woman who understands the sacred responsibility entrusted to her and carries out her duties with diligence, integrity and a remarkable down-to-earth approach.

As National Secretary of the South South Progressive Youth Movement (SSPYM), her dedication and ongoing support have contributed meaningfully to the progress, coordination and strengthening of the Movement.

Today, we celebrate her commitment, sacrifice, loyalty and invaluable contributions to SSPYM.

Thank you, Dr. Mrs. Mary Obot, for your service and steadfast support.

SSPYM celebrates a woman of service, discipline and excellence.

South South Progressive Youth Movement (SSPYM)

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29/09/2026

29/09/2026

THE MARY ALILE IDELE GRASSROOTS MODEL: WHERE MOBILIZATION MEETS EMPOWERMENT

By Okuku (Apostle) Nelson Joseph Hensley
Columnist | Editor-in-Chief, IRN Desk | National Convener, SSPYM

In Nigerian politics, mobilization becomes stronger when it connects with the everyday realities of the people.

The grassroots approach associated with Hon. Dr. Mary Alile Idele, APC National Women Leader and Convener of Tinubu Torchbearers (TTB), reflects this understanding.
Her strategy combines party structure, grassroots communication and socioeconomic engagement.

Through the women’s structure of the APC and the wider TTB network, the emphasis is on taking political engagement beyond major rallies—into markets, communities, wards and homes.

The strategic lesson is simple: people want to be heard, informed and empowered, not merely mobilized.

For women especially, political participation is closely connected to economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, skills development and community welfare. Connecting these realities with political engagement creates a more meaningful grassroots relationship.

This is where the Mary Alile Idele model becomes relevant: build the structure, take the message to the people, understand their needs and make empowerment part of grassroots engagement.

As Nigeria approaches 2027, the strength of any political mobilisation architecture will increasingly depend on its ability to build trust, structure and meaningful grassroots relationships.

Mobilization may bring people together. Empowerment gives them a reason to remain engaged.

Follow South South Progressive Youth Movement SSPYM for More inspiring leadership models and breaking News.

28/09/2026

POLITICAL UPDATES:

2027: ADC Assembly Candidates From Four States Defect To APC, Back Tinubu

ABUJA: Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a group of former African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Assembly candidates from Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba and Jigawa States has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors were received on Monday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja by the party's National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.

The delegation was led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, popularly known as Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda, while Hon. Mohammed Hassan of Zamfara State spoke on behalf of the group.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hassan said their decision was motivated by a desire to contribute to national development and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 elections.

Receiving the new members, Prof. Yilwatda welcomed them into the APC and urged them to take their political engagement to the grassroots by returning to their respective wards and communities to mobilise support for the party.

The APC chairman also said their decision to join the party would be communicated to President Tinubu and encouraged the new members to contribute actively to strengthening the party at the grassroots.

The development comes as political realignments continue across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties intensifying efforts to consolidate their structures and expand their grassroots networks.

IRN Politics Desk
FCT Abuja
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26/09/2026

INDEPENDENT REPORTERS NETWORK| IRN POLITICS DESK

2027: APC HOLDS NATIONAL STRATEGIC RETREAT IN MAIDUGURI TO STRENGTHEN UNITY, ELECTORAL READINESS

_…Party Chair, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Leads Deliberations as State Chairmen, Stakeholders Converge on Borno_

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced its National Strategic Retreat in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, with a firm focus on reorganizing and repositioning the party for total victory in the 2027 general elections.

The three-day retreat, holding from September 24 – 26, 2026, is themed “Strengthening Party Organization, Unity and Electoral Readiness Towards 2027.”

The retreat is being chaired by the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and has in attendance APC State Chairmen from the 36 States and FCT, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), zonal leaders and other critical stakeholders of the party.

According to information from the party secretariat, the retreat is designed to review the party’s organizational structure, reinforce internal democracy and unity, resolve emerging challenges at state chapters and harmonize strategies for effective grassroots mobilization.

A major item on the agenda is boosting electoral preparedness for the *re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR*, and other APC candidates across all levels in the 2027 general elections.

Discussions also center on party discipline, communication strategy, youth and women inclusion and the consolidation of the Renewed Hope Agenda at sub-national levels.

Political observers describe the choice of Maiduguri for the strategic retreat as symbolic – acknowledging the resilience of Borno State and the APC’s deep roots in the North-East.

The retreat is expected to produce a comprehensive blueprint and action plan for party strengthening and seamless victory in 2027.

Report: IRN Politics Desk, Maiduguri._