The All Progressives Congress chieftain Babafemi Ojudu has taken a swipe at the composition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council, questioning the suitability of some of the people included in the list.
Ojudu’s reaction came after the APC released a 108-member campaign council ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The list has already attracted attention within and outside the ruling party, particularly over the personalities selected to help drive Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Sunday, Ojudu described the council as a mixture of different political characters.
He said the list contained people with strong reputations alongside others whose political records could raise questions among voters.
According to him, there are “saints and former sinners, the tried and the tired, reformers and those still awaiting reform.”
Ojudu added that the council also contains people “whose names inspire confidence and others whose names inspire a quick check on one’s wallet.”
The former senator suggested that the party should be careful about the image it projects through the people chosen to represent the president during the election campaign.
He argued that a political campaign seeking the trust of Nigerians should not be seen as providing protection for individuals whose records remain controversial.
Ojudu said, “A campaign seeking the confidence of Nigerians should not appear to be offering political sanctuary to every controversial figure who can command a convoy, finance a rally or mobilise a forest.”
Ojudu was a prominent political figure during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, serving as Special Adviser on Political Matters.
He was also a former senator representing Ekiti Central.
His relationship with Tinubu, however, has not always translated into political agreement.
Ojudu openly opposed Tinubu’s presidential bid during the 2023 election cycle. At the time, he backed former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the APC presidential primary.
That position created tensions between Ojudu and some supporters of Tinubu.
However, the APC has yet to publicly respond to Ojudu’s criticism as at the time of this report.
In a related development, Ojudu had earlier made it clear that his political disagreements with Tinubu were not the result of a temporary dispute.
On March 31, the APC chieftain rejected claims that he was seeking an appointment in Tinubu’s administration.
His response followed the circulation of a video which suggested that he was interested in joining the federal government.
Ojudu dismissed the claim and said his position had not changed.
“I remain consistent in my convictions and have no intention of participating in the present government,” he said.
He further described the video as a misleading compilation circulated by people he accused of propaganda.
“My attention has been drawn to a misleading video compilation circulated by some propagandists, suggesting that I am seeking a role in the current government. This is entirely false,” Ojudu stated.
He also explained that he had not granted an interview in March 2026, contrary to what the video appeared to suggest.
According to him, his most recent interview with journalist Obilo was conducted the previous year in connection with his book, Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist.
He said his comments during that interview were strictly about the book and should not be interpreted as an attempt to secure a position in Tinubu’s government.
A day later, on April, Ojudu’s position was again reported in connection with his refusal to work with the Tinubu administration.
He described himself as part of a group within the APC that remained committed to the party while maintaining reservations about some decisions of the government.
Moreover, Ojudu’s opposition to certain aspects of Tinubu’s political direction is not entirely new.
In January 2022, before the APC presidential primary, Ojudu publicly explained why he would not support Tinubu’s presidential ambition at the time.
He said his decision was based on his personal convictions and should not be interpreted as betrayal.
Ojudu had also pointed out that Tinubu himself had made difficult political choices in the past without those decisions being described as betrayal.
“I know Tinubu. I respect and adore him,” he said at the time, while insisting that political disagreement should be allowed in a democracy.
