By Desire Uzochukwu
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Comrade Fabian Ugochukwu Okoye as Director of Civil Society Mobilisation in the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, describing the seasoned activist as the right choice for the assignment.
However, the rights group cautioned that civil society organisations must not be reduced to “electoral instruments” activated during campaigns and abandoned after elections, urging the new directorate to make citizens’ interests, policy issues and democratic accountability central to its engagement.
In a press statement yesterday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said Okoye’s long history of activism, public policy engagement, research, communication and grassroots mobilisation made him well suited to coordinate engagement with Nigeria’s diverse civil society community.
HURIWA said: “We commend President Tinubu for recognising these qualities in Comrade Okoye.”
The association described Okoye as a principled civil rights activist, nationalist and patriot whose commitment to democratic values predated his current political assignment.
It recalled that Okoye participated actively in the struggle for the restoration of democracy during the military dictatorship of the late General Sani Abacha, when activists who challenged the government faced significant personal risks.
According to HURIWA, that background would be valuable in a political environment where civil society mobilisation requires more than political patronage.
The group said effective mobilisation required an understanding of the civil society space and the ability to engage organisations and citizens across ideological, religious, ethnic and political divides.
Okoye currently serves as Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Research, Documentation and Strategy.
He previously served as Special Adviser on Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations to the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State and held a similar position with the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, between 2011 and 2015.
HURIWA said the experiences had given Okoye “an unusual understanding of both the civil society space and the machinery of government.”
The group also cited the assessment of Alhaji Saidu Ugohoh, an All Progressives Congress chieftain and former governorship aspirant in Kogi State, who worked with Okoye at the National Assembly.
Ugohoh reportedly described Okoye as a top-notch civil society expert, committed activist and accomplished mobiliser, while attesting to his competence, composure and extensive network of contacts.
HURIWA said such testimony from a former colleague reinforced its view that the appointment was based on competence and experience.
It also welcomed the endorsement by the National League for Advancement of Democracy, which described the appointment as a “round peg in a round hole.”
But while endorsing the appointment, HURIWA said Okoye must ensure that his new role does not compromise the independence and dignity of the civil society community.
The group welcomed his proposed engagement with NGOs, professional and labour groups, faith-based organisations, student bodies and community associations through town hall meetings, radio programmes, workshops and other platforms.
It, however, said such engagements should promote dialogue rather than propaganda.
“Civil society organisations are not merely electoral instruments to be activated during campaigns and abandoned after elections,” HURIWA warned.
The association urged Okoye to ensure that CSO engagement within the campaign structure was based on issues, policies, government performance and the national interest.
It said Nigerians should be allowed to ask difficult questions about government policies and performance, insisting that a vibrant civil society must be able to support good policies while questioning those it considers harmful to the public interest.
HURIWA also warned political parties and campaign organisations against allowing partisan interests to overshadow Nigeria’s democratic interests in the 2027 elections.
The group urged the Tinubu campaign organisation, including the Civil Society Mobilisation Directorate, to embrace constructive criticism rather than portray every opposing voice as an enemy of government.
It also called on all political parties to respect citizens’ fundamental rights and protect democratic institutions throughout the electoral process.
The association demanded an election free from intimidation, violence, hate speech, vote buying and other practices capable of undermining the free choice of voters.
HURIWA congratulated Okoye on his appointment and urged him to deploy his experience, integrity and strategic capacity to deepen democratic participation.
“The ultimate stakeholder in every election is the Nigerian citizen whose constitutional right is to freely choose his or her leaders without coercion,” the group said.
