Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed that Nigeria’s future should be determined through credible and transparent elections.
Shettima made the statement during the official inauguration of the National Structure of Transporters for Tinubu/Shettima 2027, a coalition comprising groups from the road, rail, aviation, maritime, logistics and pipeline transport sectors in support of the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The Vice President described transporters as “credible witnesses to our struggles” and urged them to promote peaceful and issue-focused political participation.
Shettima was represented at the event by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President. Hadejia delivered the Vice President’s address and formally inaugurated the group’s National Working Committee, as well as coordinators across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and all 774 local government areas.
“Every day you convey people and goods from one part of the nation to another, and this makes you credible witnesses to our struggles,” the Vice President’s message read.
He cautioned against acts of violence, intimidation and electoral malpractice, emphasising the importance of peaceful political participation.
“No political objective is improved by disorder,” he said. “Elections are opportunities for every citizen or group to express their interests and demonstrate their preferences.”
The keynote address, delivered on behalf of APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, by Barr. Emeka Okafor, commended the transporters for coming together in support of the administration.
Okafor described the transport sector as an important component of the Nigerian economy and a key part of the government’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“The APC Chairman and the entire party leadership commend you for coming together under this platform to support our President and Vice President,” Okafor said.
He encouraged members of the coalition to highlight the administration’s achievements and support efforts to sustain its programmes ahead of the 2027 elections.
The National Coordinator of the group and Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Transportation, Logistics and Innovation, Prince Segun Obayendo, disclosed that the coalition had commenced the development of a digital membership database.
He claimed that the group represents over 19 million transporters nationwide and said it was targeting more than eight million votes for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.
“We are not just talking for talking’s sake,” Obayendo said. “We are talking because we are united. We are talking because we are working with data.”
Obayendo also highlighted some of the administration’s transportation-related policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, expansion of Compressed Natural Gas, or CNG, and investments in electric mobility.
He maintained that the group’s organisational structure runs from the national level to local government areas to strengthen coordination ahead of the election.
Also speaking, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, commended the government’s infrastructure initiatives.
He urged transport unions to adopt digital passenger manifests and strengthen security reporting, while warning against the return of illegal movement of crude oil and minerals.
Representing the Director General of the Tinubu Support Group, Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, at the event, Dr. Obiakpor Odire congratulated the transporters and described them as important partners in grassroots mobilisation.
“Your network and reach will be vital in taking the message of renewed hope to the grassroots,” Odire said.
The event also featured goodwill messages from major transport union representatives, including Alhaji Mohammed Sanni of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, FCT Abuja, and Ambassador Aisha Mousa Lawal of the United Keke Owners and Riders Association in Nigeria.
Their participation highlighted the coalition’s broad representation within the transport sector and signalled the formal strengthening of its campaign network ahead of the 2027 general elections.
