2027 Polls: APC Backs CSJ, FES Push for Economy-Centred Political Agenda

2027 Polls: APC Backs CSJ, FES Push for Economy-Centred Political Agenda

By  Emmanuel Iyoho 

Enenede Idusuyi, Senior Special Assistant to the National Chairman, APC, representing Prof. Nentawe G. Yilwatda, delivers the party’s goodwill message at the Forum on _Political and Governance Agenda for the Economy_ in Abuja recently .

 The All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed calls by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Nigeria for political parties to place economic governance at the heart of their manifestos and campaign messages ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ruling party said sustainable economic growth, fiscal stability and national development can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, security and responsible governance.

The position was made known on Tuesday at the Stakeholders' Forum on Political and Governance Agenda for the Economy held at Sandralia Hotel, Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the Senior Special Assistant to the National Chairman, Enenede Idusuyi, said the party recognises the urgent need to make economic governance a central issue in Nigeria's political discourse.

He noted that although the APC-led Federal Government has recorded progress in several sectors, challenges such as insecurity, inflation, unemployment and infrastructure deficits require sustained policy reforms and collective national commitment.

According to him, the APC remains committed to fiscal discipline, economic diversification, job creation, institutional strengthening and policies that promote sustainable growth and improve the living standards of Nigerians.

Idusuyi added that the party's Renewed Hope Agenda aligns with the objectives of the forum, which seeks to encourage issue-based politics by making the economy a defining subject of political debate ahead of the 2027 elections.

He commended CSJ and FES Nigeria for convening the forum, describing the initiative as timely and significant in fostering constructive engagement among political parties, government institutions, civil society organisations and development partners on Nigeria's economic future.

Earlier, the Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, stressed that Nigeria's democracy would remain weak if political parties continue to pay little attention to economic governance in their manifestos and election campaigns.

He urged political parties to present credible, costed and implementable policy alternatives capable of addressing the country's fiscal challenges, promoting transparency and accountability, strengthening public finance management and delivering inclusive economic growth.

According to Onyekpere, the forum was designed to redirect political discourse from personalities, ethnicity and other divisive issues to policies that directly affect the welfare and livelihoods of Nigerians.

Participants, drawn from political parties, ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations and development partners, agreed that the 2027 general elections offer an opportunity to deepen issue-based campaigns centred on economic recovery, fiscal responsibility, job creation and improved public service delivery.

They also called for greater transparency in public expenditure, stronger oversight institutions and sustained collaboration among government, political parties, civil society and citizens to ensure that economic development remains the central focus of governance.

The organisers said recommendations from the forum would be consolidated into a policy brief for political parties and other key stakeholders to enrich policy debates and encourage greater accountability in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.