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The Big Tent, a pan-Nigerian social-political platform of independent progressives drawn from different political parties, has appointed Comrade (Prince) Tony Akeni as its Spokesman for the Independent Opposition Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akeni’s appointment also comes with membership of the forum’s Elevate Nigeria Rapid Response Team (ENRRET), placing him at the centre of the opposition platform’s strategic communication and rapid-response operations as opposition forces intensify efforts to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The appointment, contained in a letter dated October 31, 2026, and made available to the press in Abuja at the weekend, was signed by Professor Pat Utomi, renowned political economist and global convener of The Big Tent.
The former Acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party is expected to bring his extensive experience in civil rights advocacy, political communication, labour relations, governance advocacy and humanitarian journalism to the new assignment.
Akeni served as Acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party until the party’s national convention held in Umuahia, Abia State, on April 28, 2026.
Explaining the considerations behind his appointment, The Big Tent cited his longstanding record of public engagement, ideological consistency, integrity credentials and more than four decades of experience in print and electronic journalism.
The appointment letter noted that his professional and public service engagements demonstrated the communication judgment, credibility, responsiveness and commitment required to represent the organisation effectively.
“A close observation of your engagement and public service indicates the communication judgment, credibility, responsiveness and commitment required to represent The Big Tent effectively in public discourse and to contribute meaningfully to rapid response coordination,” the letter stated.
Clarifying the responsibilities attached to the appointment, the organisation said Akeni would be expected to articulate its approved positions, respond promptly to emerging public issues and work closely with the leadership of the Independent Opposition Campaign Council, its media team and the Rapid Response Team.
The dual appointment is expected to strengthen the platform’s public communication capacity as it pursues a broader opposition alliance aimed at producing a formidable political alternative to the APC in the 2027 elections.
The Big Tent, which has operated as a multi-party progressive platform since 2022 under Utomi’s leadership, has been at the forefront of efforts to encourage cooperation among opposition parties and stakeholders seeking an alternative political direction for Nigeria.
Earlier in 2026, the organisation, alongside the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) and other opposition leaders, championed the G-100 initiative, conceived to bring opposition political parties together under a common platform capable of challenging the ruling party.
The initiative, whose central objective includes building consensus around a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, was subsequently renamed the Coalition for Democracy (CD).
The change followed a meeting of its Central Leadership Committee (CLC) on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as part of efforts to advance the proposed opposition coalition.
Akeni’s appointment comes against this backdrop of intensified political consultations and coalition-building among opposition stakeholders seeking to consolidate their strength ahead of the next general elections.
Beyond his political and media engagements, the new Big Tent spokesman has established several civil society, good governance and humanitarian initiatives.
He is the founder of the Niger Delta Equity Roundtable (NIDER), established in 2008; Nigeria Cannot Continue Like This (NCC-LIT), founded in 2019; and We’ve Not Forgotten You (WENFOY), established in 2023.
WENFOY is an emerging global humanitarian initiative designed to support the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities, their resettlement and economic rehabilitation through what its founder describes as a Marshall Plan for Nigeria’s displaced populations.
He is also the founder of the Save Democracy Mega Alliance (SDMA), established in 2024, and has served as a member, co-leader and co-coordinator of several good governance organisations operating across Nigeria and the diaspora.
In addition to his civil society engagements, Akeni is an author. His published work includes Psalms of Democracy, a modern anthology released in 2009, alongside numerous essays on human rights, democratic governance and civil society advocacy.
His professional journalism career also includes an interview with late Chief Anthony Enahoro in 2010, months before the renowned nationalist and independence campaigner died on December 15, 2010.
With the new appointment, Akeni is expected to deploy his extensive experience in journalism, political advocacy and public communication to strengthen The Big Tent’s engagement with Nigerians and contribute to the opposition’s broader campaign for political change in 2027.
