By Bose
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled the leadership structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election, bringing together senior party leaders, governors, legislators, ministers and political strategists to spearhead the ruling party’s bid for another term.
The campaign council, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, will be led by Tinubu as chairman, with Vice President Kashim Shettima serving as vice chairman.
Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, has been appointed Director-General of the campaign, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, will serve as secretary. APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and Hadiza Bala-Usman were named deputy secretary and assistant secretary respectively.
APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, will also serve as a vice chairman of the council.
The campaign leadership includes a high-powered advisory team comprising former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha; former Senate President, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
Tinubu charged members of the council to work collectively and aggressively towards securing victory for the APC, while urging directorate heads to involve other party members whose names may not appear in the formal list but whose contributions could strengthen the campaign.
The President, in a message to the campaign team, argued that his administration had laid the foundation for economic recovery and urged the party to make its record of governance a central component of its campaign.
He maintained that the APC would enter the 2027 campaign season with achievements to showcase and called on party leaders to communicate the administration’s message of economic progress and renewed hope to Nigerians.
The council has also created a broad regional and operational structure designed to coordinate the campaign across the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed deputy directors-general responsible for the South and North, working alongside Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau.
Former Edo State Governor and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, will oversee mobilisation as deputy director-general, while the President’s Chief of Staff will coordinate administration.
James Abiodun Faleke, who was prominent in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Faleke will coordinate a team of zonal directors covering the six geopolitical zones. They include Senator Olushola Adeyeye for the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme for the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife for the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe for the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso for the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi for the North-East.
Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori were named secretaries of the election planning directorate.
The legal directorate will be headed by Muiz Adeyemi Banire, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members include Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
The media and strategic communications arm is also expected to play a critical role in selling the administration’s record and shaping the APC’s campaign narrative.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi will serve as coordinating director for Media and Strategic Communication, alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka will serve as coordinating deputy directors, while Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke and Frederick Nwabufor will serve as coordinating secretaries.
Segun Dada has been returned as Director of New Media, the same position he occupied during the 2022 campaign, with Solomon Arowolo serving as secretary of the New Media directorate.
The campaign has also named five spokespersons, with Dele Alake leading the team. Other spokespersons are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
The unveiling of the council effectively sets the stage for the APC’s mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential contest, with the ruling party expected to deploy its political structure, government record and nationwide network of party leaders in its campaign for another mandate for Tinubu.
For the opposition, the composition of the council is equally significant, as the size and political weight of the team signal the seriousness with which the APC is approaching what is expected to be a highly competitive presidential election.
The challenge before the campaign leadership, however, will extend beyond assembling prominent political figures. The APC will have to translate its economic and governance claims into a convincing message for voters grappling with the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and other socioeconomic pressures.
With the 2027 contest already beginning to take shape, the campaign council will therefore face the dual task of defending the Tinubu administration’s record while persuading Nigerians that the APC remains the political platform capable of delivering the future it promises.
