The All Progressives Congress (APC) has ordered ministers, political appointees and members of its presidential campaign council to attend campaign rallies only in their home states, introducing new restrictions on their participation in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The directive, issued on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, is intended to strengthen grassroots mobilisation, reduce unnecessary travel between campaign venues and ensure that party officials concentrate on their assigned responsibilities.
According to a circular signed by Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, ministers and other political appointees must focus their campaign activities on polling units, wards and local government areas in their states of origin.
The decision changes how senior party officials will participate in the nationwide campaign, with greater responsibility placed on state and local party structures rather than ministers travelling to rallies across the country.
Why APC restricted ministers to their home states
The party said its campaign rallies are designed to mobilise supporters and communicate what it considers the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
However, the campaign leadership wants officials to concentrate on specific responsibilities rather than attend events where they have no assigned role.
In the circular, Yari stated:
“Ministers and other political appointees are required to attend only the rallies held in their home States.”
He explained that the arrangement was intended to improve coordination and the implementation of campaign activities.
The council also directed campaign directorates without specific responsibilities at rallies to concentrate on their approved work plans and budgets.
This means senior officials will be expected to devote more attention to organising activities in their home constituencies, including engaging party structures at ward and polling-unit levels.
The directive does not prohibit ministers from travelling outside their home states for official government duties. It specifically concerns their participation in APC campaign rallies.
Five APC national officials exempted from restriction
The new arrangement also affects members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), although five senior officers are exempted from the home-state attendance restriction.
They are the national chairman, national secretary, national women’s leader, national youth leader and national organising secretary.
Other NWC members have been directed to concentrate on party activities in their states and geopolitical zones, attending rallies primarily in their home states.
The exemption allows the five national officers to continue carrying out broader campaign responsibilities across different parts of the country.
The campaign council has also instructed directors to communicate the guidelines to all officers under their supervision and ensure compliance.
There is no verified official figure identifying exactly how many ministers, political appointees and campaign council members will be affected by the directive.
Tinubu to attend rallies in only 12 states
The restriction comes weeks after Tinubu announced that he would not personally attend every APC rally ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.
During the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on 14 October, the President said his government responsibilities would prevent him from travelling to every campaign venue.
He asked party leaders to coordinate mobilisation efforts while he concentrated on governance and the country’s financial obligations.
Tinubu nevertheless indicated that he would make time to address Nigerians directly.
The APC subsequently released a campaign timetable covering Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the President scheduled to attend rallies in 12 states.
These include Kaduna, Rivers, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.
Under the published timetable, Lagos is expected to host the campaign’s grand finale on 9 January 2027.
APC seeks greater visibility for Senate and House candidates
Another important aspect of the circular is the party’s decision to give greater attention to candidates contesting legislative elections.
The campaign council wants APC candidates for state houses of assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate to have more opportunities to engage voters during rallies.
Previously, national campaign events often placed presidential candidates and prominent party officials at the centre of attention.
The revised arrangement is intended to provide more space for candidates seeking legislative seats to introduce themselves, explain their priorities and mobilise support within their constituencies.
For the APC, this could help coordinate presidential and legislative campaigns while allowing local candidates to concentrate on issues affecting their communities.
However, increased visibility does not guarantee electoral success. Candidates must still persuade voters through their policies, records and commitments.
Will the new directive affect government responsibilities?
The decision also raises questions about how ministers and political appointees will balance campaign activities with their public duties.
Although the APC has restricted attendance at rallies, the circular does not establish new statutory rules governing ministerial conduct.
It is an internal party campaign directive, not a federal law.
Ministers remain responsible for overseeing their ministries and delivering government programmes, regardless of their political activities.
The restriction could reduce time spent travelling between rallies, but whether it improves governance will depend on how officials manage their responsibilities.
For Nigerians concerned about rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity and access to public services, the practical question is whether ministers will continue to deliver on their official duties during the election period.
There is also a distinction between party campaign activities and government business. Public resources must be managed in accordance with the applicable laws and financial rules.
What the directive means for the 2027 elections
The APC’s decision signals greater emphasis on grassroots campaigning as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Instead of concentrating primarily on large national rallies, the party wants ministers, appointees and campaign officials to strengthen mobilisation through local party structures.
This approach could make state-level campaign organisations more important, particularly in constituencies where the APC faces strong opposition.
It also means that the effectiveness of each minister or political appointee’s campaign participation may increasingly depend on their influence and organisational work in their home state.
New Daily Prime previously reported that the party had planned to launch its presidential campaign in Kaduna on 24 October, with Yari coordinating preparations.
The party has also faced organisational disagreements in some states, including Osun, where local leaders complained about insufficient consultation over campaign committee arrangements.
The latest directive does not resolve such disagreements automatically, but it establishes clearer responsibilities for campaign personnel.
As of 4 November, no verified response from major opposition parties specifically addressing this new circular was found in the reporting reviewed.
What happens next?
APC campaign directors are expected to communicate the new attendance restrictions to their members and ensure they are followed during forthcoming rallies.
The party’s next scheduled presidential rally attended by Tinubu is in Rivers State on 7 November, followed by Plateau State on 14 November, according to the previously published timetable.
Whether those appearances proceed as scheduled will depend on any subsequent changes announced by the campaign council.
The party will also need to coordinate its campaign activities across states where the President is not personally expected to appear.
For ministers and political appointees, the immediate instruction is clear: concentrate on home-state mobilisation rather than travel around the country attending APC rallies.
Related news
APC fixes 24 October for campaign start in Kaduna — Earlier coverage of the party’s campaign timetable and Abdulaziz Yari’s responsibilities.
Osun APC protests short notice for Tinubu campaign committee inauguration — Examines disagreements over coordination of state-level campaign structures.
Seyi Tinubu mobilisers to take 2027 campaign to residents’ doorsteps — Explains how an APC support group plans to organise grassroots campaigning.
What readers should know
The APC has directed ministers, political appointees and most campaign council members to attend presidential campaign rallies only in their home states ahead of the 2027 election.
Five senior members of the party’s National Working Committee are exempted from the restriction, while campaign officials without rally assignments have been told to focus on their existing duties.
The directive does not stop ministers from carrying out official government assignments outside their states. It concerns party campaign attendance, not their constitutional or administrative responsibilities.
The main issue for voters is whether the new structure improves local engagement while allowing government officials to maintain their public duties during the campaign period.
