2027: HURIWA Hails Tinubu Over Fabian Okoye’s Appointment, Says Seasoned Activist Is Right Choice for CSO Mobilisation

PRESS STATEMENT

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)

2027: HURIWA Hails Tinubu Over Fabian Okoye’s Appointment, Says Seasoned Activist Is Right Choice for CSO Mobilisation

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of Comrade Fabian Ugochukwu Okoye as Director of Civil Society Mobilisation in the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
HURIWA considers the appointment a significant recognition of the strategic importance of civil society organisations in Nigeria’s democratic process and believes that Comrade Okoye possesses the experience, credibility, organisational capacity and extensive network required to undertake the assignment effectively.
The rights group said it was particularly encouraged by the choice of an individual with a long history of engagement with Nigeria’s organised civil society and human rights community.
HURIWA recognises Comrade Fabian Okoye as a principled civil rights activist of high reputation, an altruistic personality, a nationalist and a patriotic Nigerian whose commitment to democratic values predates his present political assignment.
Indeed, Comrade Okoye was among the courageous activists who vigorously participated in the struggle for the restoration of democracy during the dark days of the late General Sani Abacha’s military dictatorship, when speaking truth to power carried enormous personal risks.
For HURIWA, this history of activism is important because effective civil society mobilisation cannot be reduced to political patronage. It requires a deep understanding of the civil society environment, the ability to engage diverse constituencies and the credibility to communicate across ideological, religious, ethnic and political boundaries.
We therefore commend President Tinubu for recognising these qualities in Comrade Okoye.
HURIWA notes that Okoye’s experience has gone beyond activism. He has acquired considerable exposure in public policy, research, documentation, strategy, communication and grassroots mobilisation.
He currently serves as Special Adviser to the 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 also served in a similar advisory capacity to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, between 2011 and 2015.
These experiences, in our view, have equipped him with an unusual understanding of both the civil society space and the machinery of government.
HURIWA also welcomes the views of his former colleague, Alhaji Saidu Ugohoh, an APC chieftain and former governorship aspirant in Kogi State, who described Okoye as a top-notch civil society expert, committed activist and accomplished mobiliser.
Ugohoh, who worked with Okoye at the National Assembly, attested to his competence, commitment, composure and extensive network of contacts.
He specifically recalled Okoye’s ability to deliver assignments under pressure, describing his performance and target delivery as consistently excellent.
For HURIWA, such testimony from a former colleague who had firsthand experience working with Okoye reinforces the view that the appointment was based on competence and experience.
We also note the endorsement by the National League for Advancement of Democracy, which described the appointment as a “round peg in a round hole.”
HURIWA agrees that civil society mobilisation requires individuals who understand how the sector operates and possess the capacity to bring together organisations with different interests around issues of common national concern.
CSOs Must Remain Critical Stakeholders
HURIWA welcomes Comrade Okoye’s position that civil society organisations are critical and strategic partners in Nigeria’s democratic development.
Civil society organisations have historically played important roles in promoting human rights, democratic accountability, civic education, good governance and citizens’ participation.
They are not merely electoral instruments to be activated during campaigns and abandoned after elections.
Consequently, while HURIWA acknowledges Okoye’s new responsibility within the campaign structure, we urge him to preserve the independence and dignity of the civil society community by ensuring that engagement is based on issues, policies, performance and the national interest.
We equally welcome his proposed engagement with NGOs, professional and labour groups, faith-based organisations, student bodies, community associations and other civic formations through town hall meetings, public education, radio programmes, workshops and other platforms.
Such engagements must encourage dialogue rather than propaganda and must allow Nigerians to ask difficult questions about government policies and performance.
2027 Must Be About Nigeria
HURIWA believes that the 2027 elections must go beyond partisan mobilisation.
Political parties have every constitutional right to seek electoral victory, but Nigeria’s democratic interest must remain superior to the ambitions of individual politicians and political parties.
We therefore urge the Tinubu campaign organisation, including the Civil Society Mobilisation Directorate, to embrace constructive criticism and avoid the temptation to portray every opposing voice as an enemy of government.
A vibrant civil society is one that can support good policies while also questioning policies it considers harmful to the public interest.
HURIWA consequently expects Comrade Okoye, given his history as a human rights activist, to bring this balance to his new responsibility.
The association further calls on all political parties and their campaign organisations to respect citizens’ fundamental rights, protect democratic institutions and ensure that the 2027 electoral process is free from intimidation, violence, hate speech, vote buying and other practices capable of undermining democratic choice.
HURIWA congratulates Comrade Fabian Ugochukwu Okoye on his appointment and urges him to deploy his experience, integrity, strategic capacity and extensive network in a manner that strengthens democratic participation and promotes the larger Nigerian interest.
We also urge him to remember that the ultimate stakeholder in every election is the Nigerian citizen whose constitutional right is to freely choose his or her leaders without coercion.
Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
27 August 2026