President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence in securing victory in the 2027 presidential election, urging members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appointed to his campaign council to work towards delivering the party’s success at the polls.
Tinubu spoke as the Presidency announced the constitution of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the January 2027 election.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Under the structure, Tinubu will serve as chairman of the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as vice chairmen.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, was appointed Director-General of the campaign council, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, will serve as secretary.
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, and Hadiza Bala-Usman were appointed deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.
The campaign council also includes several senior APC figures and political leaders across the country.
Former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; and former Senator Florence Ita-Giwa were appointed as advisers to the council.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were named deputy directors-general for the South and North.
They will work alongside Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau in coordinating the campaign across the two broad regions.
Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was appointed deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will serve as deputy director-general for administration.
James Abiodun Faleke, who played a prominent role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
He will work with zonal directors representing the six geopolitical zones.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye will oversee the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi the North-East.
Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Ramat and Audu Maikori were named secretaries of the election planning directorate.
Tinubu urges campaign team to sell achievements
While unveiling the campaign structure, Tinubu urged members of the various directorates to reach out to other APC members who were not formally listed but could contribute to the party’s campaign efforts.
The President also asked the campaign team to highlight his administration’s achievements and convince Nigerians that the country was on the path to economic recovery.
“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
He urged the campaign team to make the administration’s record a central part of its campaign message.
“As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet, let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation. Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards,” he added.
Alake, Idris to lead media and strategic communication
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was appointed Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication.
He will work with former Director-General of the State Security Service, Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka were appointed coordinating deputy directors in the media directorate.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke and Frederick Nwabufo were named coordinating secretaries.
Segun Dada will serve as Director of New Media, having previously held the same position during the 2022/2023 presidential campaign, while Solomon Arowolo will serve as Secretary of New Media.
Five spokespersons were also appointed, with Dele Alake leading the team. The other spokespersons are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
Yari to head campaign administration
Yari’s appointment as Director-General places the former Zamfara governor at the centre of the APC’s efforts to secure Tinubu’s re-election.
The former governor will be responsible for coordinating the various arms of the campaign council and ensuring effective mobilisation of the party’s structures ahead of the election.
The appointment comes as the APC intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election and seeks to consolidate its position across the country.
Atiku attacks campaign council
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, criticised the unveiling of Tinubu’s campaign council, describing it as an attempt to divert public attention from the ongoing debate over fuel subsidy and other economic issues.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe, Atiku said the campaign council was being used as a distraction from what he described as more important policy questions.
“The Tinubu’s campaign council is deflective; it is meant to divert attention from the larger issue of subsidy. This is not the first time that Tinubu people will do this. They are very good at deflection,” Ibe said.
He added that Atiku’s own campaign team was being finalised, but argued that policy should take precedence over the structure of the campaign organisation.
“The campaign team is being worked out. But what is more important is the policy. It is above the campaign council and all of that. The council will come very soon, but the priority is on the policy, that is what will give us direction,” he said.
APM describes council as ‘yes men’
The Allied Peoples’ Movement also criticised the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, describing it as a gathering of “yes men” who, according to the party, would struggle to secure Tinubu’s re-election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said in a statement that several members of the council lacked the public goodwill required to deliver victory for the President.
The APM specifically questioned Yari’s record as governor of Zamfara State and criticised the choice of other members of the campaign council.
The party also accused some members of the campaign structure of political inconsistency and attempting to secure protection from corruption allegations.
It argued that the APC’s performance in the recent Osun State governorship election should serve as a warning to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 presidential poll.
The APM further promoted its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, as an alternative to Tinubu, promising what it described as a more transparent and people-focused approach to governance.
“Our candidate is armed with a blueprint for a new and transparent approach to governance that puts Nigerians first, prioritising inclusive human development and wellbeing through people-oriented policies and prudent management of resources,” the party said.
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