President Bola Tinubu has activated the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 elections, with former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, appointed Director-General of the campaign council.
The composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council places President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as chairman and vice chairman respectively, signalling the ruling party’s early mobilisation for the crucial election.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as another vice chairman, while Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has been named secretary of the council.
In a statement released on Saturday by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, and Hadiza Bala-Usman will serve as deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.
The campaign council brings together senior party leaders, serving governors, legislators, former governors, political strategists and media professionals who will coordinate the party’s campaign across the country.
Tinubu will be assisted by a council of advisers comprising former APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande; veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba; Rochas Okorocha; former Senate President, Abdullahi Adamu; and Florence Ita Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, have been appointed deputy director-generals for the campaign in the South and North.
They will work alongside the Senate leader, Bamidele Opeyemi and the Deputy Senate President, Jibril Barau in coordinating the two broad zones.
Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has been assigned the responsibility of deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff will serve as deputy director-general for administration.
The lawmaker representing Ikeja at the House of Representatives, James Faleke, who played a prominent role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, is returning as deputy director-general in charge of election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Faleke will oversee zonal directors covering the six geopolitical zones, including Olushola Adeyeye for the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme for the South-South, Uche Ekwunife for the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe for the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso for the North-Central and Sani Danladi for the North-East.
The election planning directorate will have Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Ramat and Audu Maikori as secretaries.
In the legal directorate, Muiz Banire has been appointed director, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members include Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema; Worgu Boms and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
The party has also assembled a strong media and strategic communications team as it prepares to sell its record and campaign message to Nigerians.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, will serve as coordinating director for media and strategic communication, working with Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka have been designated coordinating deputy directors in the media directorate.
Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke and Frederick Nwabufor will serve as coordinating secretaries, while Segun Dada returns as Director of New Media, a position he held during the 2022/2023 presidential campaign. Solomon Arowolo will serve as secretary of the New Media directorate.
The campaign council has also named five spokespersons, with Dele Alake leading the team. Others are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
After the appointment, Tinubu charged members of the council to work tirelessly towards securing victory for the APC in the January 2027 elections.
The President also urged the various directorates to bring other party members into the campaign effort, including those who were not formally captured in the initial list.
According to him, the APC campaign would be anchored on the administration’s record and its claim of moving the country towards economic recovery and prosperity.
“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 confidently communicate the administration’s achievements and inspire Nigerians with its vision for the country.
“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,” the President added.
He further charged the campaign council to work for victory against opposition forces seeking to dislodge the APC from power.
The unveiling of the campaign council marks a significant step in the ruling party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential contest and sets the stage for nationwide political mobilisation ahead of the election.