President charges campaign leaders to unite, defend administration’s record and maintain focus on governance as APC unveils expanded council featuring governors, ministers, legislators and political stakeholders
ABUJA, October 14, 2026 — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election, declaring that the ruling party was united and prepared to renew its covenant with Nigerians.
At the inauguration ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, the President charged members of the council and party leaders to demonstrate unity, discipline, commitment and dedication as they prepare for the forthcoming presidential election.
He, however, cautioned that the campaign must not distract his administration from its governance responsibilities, stressing that the Federal Government would continue to pursue its economic policies, meet its financial obligations and work towards attracting investments needed to secure Nigeria’s future.
The inauguration followed the release of a revised membership list of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which brought together senior party officials, state governors, ministers, legislators, former public office holders and other political stakeholders.
The expanded structure also included several prominent politicians affiliated with other political parties, notably Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
The inclusion of the three politicians, alongside other appointments and changes to the council’s leadership structure, formed part of the broader preparations for the APC’s 2027 presidential campaign.
Tinubu: No credit for an incomplete assignment
Addressing members of the council, President Tinubu expressed gratitude to party leaders and supporters for their contributions to his emergence as President in 2023, but insisted that the party must consolidate its efforts by securing victory in the next election.
He said the responsibility before the council extended beyond holding meetings and making political declarations, requiring members to mobilise voters and deliver results in their respective wards, local government areas and states.
“As I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and spirit full of resolve, it is my honour to inaugurate the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 General Election,” the President said.
He added: “I thank all of you for the last election, but no one gets credit for an incomplete assignment until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver the votes.”
Tinubu’s remarks placed particular emphasis on the need for effective grassroots mobilisation, coordination among party structures and accountability for electoral performance.
The President urged council members to approach their responsibilities with a shared sense of purpose, noting that the party’s ability to work together would be important as it prepares to present its policies and record to the electorate.
He also called for responsible political engagement, urging campaign officials to communicate the administration’s policies and programmes clearly and engage Nigerians constructively.
The President said the campaign should highlight the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda while allowing the government to continue implementing its development priorities.
President accepts Uzodimma’s advice on governance
Tinubu acknowledged the counsel of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, who advised him not to allow the demands of the election campaign to interfere with the discharge of his presidential responsibilities.
Uzodimma had assured the President that governors and other party leaders would work to communicate the administration’s policies and programmes to Nigerians.
Responding to the advice, Tinubu said he appreciated the need to maintain a balance between political mobilisation and governance.
He explained that although the campaign council would take responsibility for much of the political engagement across the states and local government areas, he would still make time to communicate directly with Nigerians.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas,” he said.
The President also highlighted the need to meet Nigeria’s financial obligations and maintain an investment climate capable of supporting economic growth.
“We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.
His remarks underscored the administration’s position that electoral preparations should proceed alongside the implementation of economic policies and the management of government responsibilities.
Shettima praises Tinubu’s political record
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who addressed the gathering before the President’s remarks, commended Tinubu for what he described as courage and conviction in deepening democracy in Nigeria.
Shettima cited Tinubu’s support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2007, when Atiku sought to contest the presidency on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
The Vice President used the example to make a broader argument about political institutions and respect for the office of the President.
“You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Shettima said.
He also criticised Atiku, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress, over what he characterised as a tendency to belittle the presidency.
Shettima further criticised Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, over his use of statistics and comparisons between Nigeria and other countries.
The Vice President argued that comparisons between nations should be made with sufficient context.
His comments reflected the political contest expected to accompany the 2027 election, with the APC preparing to defend the administration’s record against criticism from opposition parties and candidates.
Yilwatda charges council to communicate government policies
APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda said the inauguration demonstrated the party’s commitment to building a better Nigeria.
He called on members of the campaign council to communicate the President’s achievements, policies and programmes accurately and confidently.
Yilwatda said the party must explain how government reforms and investments could translate into practical improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.
“We must show Nigerians how this investment and reforms can translate into practical improvement in our daily lives. This is the substance of our campaign,” he said.
He added that the campaign must present a clear record of the administration’s performance, an honest assessment of the challenges confronting the country and a credible vision for the future.
The APC chairman also highlighted the importance of effective organisation across the party’s national, state, local government and ward structures.
“Our strength depends on the effectiveness of our national leadership, the commitment of the state chapters led by our generals, governors, the organisation of our local government and the dedication at the ward level,” he said.
Yilwatda assured Tinubu that the campaign council would undertake mobilisation across the country, moving from ward to ward, local government to local government and state to state.
He also urged members to ensure that the election was conducted peacefully and with respect for Nigerians.
“Let the coming election be a contest of ideas, records, and policies and be conducted peacefully and with respect for the Nigerian people,” he said.
The APC chairman maintained that the party had made progress under the administration and should communicate its record through substantive engagement rather than relying solely on political slogans.
Uzodimma defends economic reforms
Governor Uzodimma, who serves as Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, assured Tinubu that the campaign would be issue-based and centred on the administration’s policies and programmes.
He said the President’s willingness to confront difficult economic challenges inherited from previous administrations would form an important part of the campaign’s message.
According to Uzodimma, Nigeria had previously spent substantial resources on petrol subsidies, while the multiple exchange-rate system created distortions in the economy.
He said the President took decisions to address those arrangements from the beginning of his administration despite the political and economic difficulties associated with the reforms.
“The first thing we are proud of is the courage you brought to the problems you inherited when you took office,” Uzodimma said.
He continued: “The country was spending more money on petrol subsidies than on many of its most important public services combined. And a system of multiple exchange rates rewarded a few at everyone else's expense.”
Uzodimma argued that previous administrations had recognised the difficulties associated with the arrangements but had not taken the same steps to dismantle them.
“Every Nigerian leader before you knew that these arrangements could not last. You were the only one who chose to end them. On the first day of your administration and in the full knowledge that it would cost your popularity, you did it,” he said.
The governor also commended the administration’s tax reforms and other economic measures.
He cited economic growth of 4.43 per cent, compared with 4.23 per cent a year earlier, as evidence of improving economic performance.
Uzodimma acknowledged that the reforms had caused hardship and inconvenience for some Nigerians but maintained that the administration believed the measures were necessary to address longstanding structural problems.
“Nobody here pretends that these reforms did not bring some hardship or some inconveniences to our people, but the institutions that measure economies of nations are now saying what we have been saying for some time, which is that Nigeria is on the right course,” he said.
His comments signalled that economic policy would be central to the APC’s campaign narrative, particularly as the party seeks to explain the rationale for its reforms and address public concerns about their effects on household finances and living standards.
Wike declares support for Tinubu’s second-term bid
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, who attended the event and delivered a goodwill message, expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election bid despite his continued association with the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike said he supported the President because he believed the administration had demonstrated the willingness to confront problems that previous governments had left unresolved.
“Previous administrations identified our problems, but did not tackle them. You have not shied away from tackling such problems. You tackled them from Day One,” the FCT minister said.
He also challenged governors to work towards delivering their respective states for the President in the 2027 election.
Wike’s appearance at the inauguration attracted attention because he remains a prominent figure in the PDP, while Tinubu is the candidate of the APC.
His inclusion in the revised campaign council, with responsibility for coordinating the President’s campaign in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, reflected the broad range of political figures brought into the expanded campaign structure.
The council also named other politicians whose party affiliations differ from that of the APC, underscoring the coalition-building dimension of the President’s re-election campaign.
Adeleke, Soludo and other leaders pledge support
In their goodwill messages, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo also expressed commitment to Tinubu’s re-election.
Adeleke, who won his recent re-election under the Accord Party, attracted attention at the event with his familiar dance steps, which drew cheers from the crowded hall.
Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was also among the prominent political figures included in the revised campaign council.
Their participation was presented by APC leaders as evidence of support for Tinubu beyond the party’s immediate membership.
The political significance of such participation, however, lies in the specific roles assigned to the individuals and the extent to which their appointments translate into campaign activity in their respective states.
The revised list named Adeleke as campaign coordinator for Osun State and Soludo as coordinator for Anambra State. Wike was assigned responsibility for Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
The appointments placed the three politicians within a wider structure designed to coordinate mobilisation, communication and campaign organisation across the country.
Tinubu commends Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat
The President also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, for their contributions to his political record during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.
Tinubu particularly referenced efforts to address the encroachment of the Atlantic Ocean and the development of major urban projects.
“There is a limit, but there is no limit in daring. We dared the Atlantic Ocean, and the result is the Atlantic City in Lagos,” he said.
The remarks formed part of the President’s broader recognition of political allies and officials whom he credited with contributing to his record in public office.
Akpabio, Abbas, Masari and Yakassai urge support
Other speakers at the inauguration included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Ibrahim Kabiru Masari and elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai.
They called on Nigerians to support Tinubu for a second term, arguing that continuity would enable the administration to consolidate the gains it believes have been achieved through its reform agenda.
Their participation reflected the involvement of the executive and legislative leadership, as well as established political figures, in the APC’s campaign preparations.
The inauguration also brought together party leaders, serving public officials and campaign operatives expected to coordinate activities across different regions and sectors.
Revised campaign council features broad national structure
The revised APC Presidential Campaign Council membership list, released ahead of the inauguration, sets out a wide-ranging structure for coordinating the 2027 presidential campaign.
The list includes principal officers, deputy campaign leaders, zonal coordinators, state campaign coordinators, officials responsible for finance and fundraising, media and strategic communication personnel, mobilisation directors and representatives of different sectors.
It also provides for structures covering women and youth mobilisation, security and intelligence, legal affairs, parliamentary mobilisation, digital operations, stakeholder engagement, grassroots outreach, community support and other campaign functions.
The inclusion of a broad range of political office holders and stakeholders reflects the scale of the organisation assembled to coordinate the President’s re-election campaign.
Principal officers of the APC Presidential Campaign Council
The principal leadership appointments in the revised list are as follows:
- Chairman: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
- Vice Chairman I: Vice President Kashim Shettima.
- Vice Chairman II: APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.
- Deputy Vice Chairman I: Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio.
- Deputy Vice Chairman II: Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
- Deputy Vice Chairman III: Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
- Director-General: Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
- Deputy Director-General, North I: Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.
- Deputy Director-General, South I: Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
- Deputy Director-General, North II: Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
- Deputy Director-General, South II: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu.
- Deputy Director-General, Mobilisation: Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
- Head of Administration: Femi Gbajabiamila.
- Deputy Director-General, Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring: James Abiodun Faleke.
- Deputy Director-General, Logistics and Operations: Ibrahim Kabir Masari.
- Deputy Director-General, Parliamentarian Mobilisation: Aminu Bello Masari.
- Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation: David Umahi.
- Secretary: Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
- Deputy Secretary: Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.
- Assistant Secretary: Hadiza Bala-Usman.
Finance, fundraising and campaign coordination
The revised council also assigns responsibilities for financial coordination, fundraising and campaign logistics.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was named Director of Finance and Treasurer. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and House of Representatives member Abubakar Kabir Bichi were assigned deputy finance and treasury responsibilities, while Tanimu Yakubu was named secretary for finance and treasury.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun was appointed Director of Fundraising, with Zacch Adedeji serving as Deputy Director of Fundraising.
The council’s logistics and operations structure includes Adeniyi Tinubu as Deputy Director of Logistics and Operations and Professor Muhammad Kabir Isa as secretary for the directorate.
The election planning, coordination and mobilisation structure is designed to support campaign activity across the country, including coordination between national leadership and the state-level campaign organisations.
Zonal campaign leadership
The revised council provides for campaign coordination across the six geopolitical zones.
The zonal leadership structure announced in the earlier membership schedule included:
- South-South: Senator Bassey Otu.
- South-East: Governor Peter Mbah.
- South-West: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
- North-Central: Governor Umar Bago.
- North-East: Senator Modu Sheriff.
- North-West: Governor Uba Sani.
The October revised schedule also provides for state-level coordination and other zonal responsibilities across the campaign’s various directorates.
The updated list identifies state campaign coordinators and other officials responsible for implementing the council’s mobilisation strategy. It also accommodates the participation of the APC’s state structures, serving ministers, elected representatives and other stakeholders.
Media, communications and campaign messaging
Media and strategic communication are central to the council’s structure, with responsibilities assigned for coordinating official messaging, publicity and engagement with the public.
Among the prominent figures associated with the council’s media and communication arrangements are Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, Mohammed Idris Malagi, Lanre Issa-Onilu, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka.
Other officials named in media-related responsibilities include Lere Olayinka, media aide to Wike, and Segun Sowunmi.
The revised council also provides for campaign spokespersons and new-media responsibilities, reflecting the need to communicate campaign messages through traditional media, digital platforms and other channels.
The APC leadership has maintained that its campaign should be based on explaining the administration’s record, the purpose of its reforms and its vision for the country.
Sectoral and grassroots mobilisation
The council’s structure extends beyond its principal leadership to include officials responsible for mobilising support across different sectors and population groups.
These include directorates for:
- Youth mobilisation.
- Women mobilisation.
- Mobilisation of persons with disabilities.
- Sports-sector mobilisation.
- Financial and technology services.
- Extractive industries.
- Education.
- Manufacturing and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Support-group coordination.
- Faith-based mobilisation.
- Protocol.
- Labour union relations.
- Special duties.
- Stakeholder mobilisation.
- Community support mobilisation.
- Digital operations.
- Grassroots engagement.
- Welfare, morale and support.
- Parliamentary mobilisation.
- Security and intelligence.
- Contact and mobilisation.
The sectoral arrangements are intended to provide the campaign with dedicated structures for reaching specific constituencies and coordinating activities at the national, zonal, state and grassroots levels.
The council’s state campaign arrangements also provide for the participation of state APC executive committees, serving ministers, APC candidates for the National Assembly and state legislatures, elected APC local government chairpersons, support groups, youth and women campaign teams, and other stakeholders.
Prominent political appointments in the revised list
The revised membership list includes several prominent political figures beyond the core APC leadership.
Among them are:
- Nyesom Wike: Campaign coordinator for Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
- Ademola Adeleke: Campaign coordinator for Osun State.
- Chukwuma Charles Soludo: Campaign coordinator for Anambra State.
- Sheriff Oborevwori: Director of Finance and Treasurer.
- Dapo Abiodun: Director of Fundraising.
- Zacch Adedeji: Deputy Director of Fundraising.
- David Umahi: Deputy Director-General responsible for infrastructure, mobilisation and sensitisation.
- Benjamin Kalu: Deputy Director-General for the South II.
- Martin Amaewhule: Assigned a role in South-South state-assembly mobilisation.
- Joseph Yobo: Deputy Director for sports-sector mobilisation.
- Ayiri Emami: Director of Special Duties.
- Abdullahi Umar Ganduje: Director of Stakeholders’ Mobilisation.
- Babatunde Fashola: Assigned a role in South-West stakeholders’ mobilisation.
- Hope Uzodimma: Secretary of the council.
- Ajibola Basiru: Deputy Secretary.
- Hadiza Bala-Usman: Assistant Secretary.
- James Abiodun Faleke: Responsible for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
- Dele Alake: Associated with the council’s media and policy responsibilities.
The revised list also includes advisers and other stakeholders, alongside officials assigned responsibilities in parliamentary mobilisation, contact mobilisation and regional coordination.
Campaign expected to focus on reforms, performance and public engagement
The speeches delivered at the inauguration suggest that the APC intends to make the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, infrastructure initiatives and governance record important themes of its campaign.
Tinubu’s emphasis on maintaining governance responsibilities while the campaign proceeds indicates that the administration intends to continue its official duties alongside political mobilisation.
Uzodimma’s defence of the reforms, meanwhile, points to an effort by the party to explain the rationale for decisions concerning petrol subsidies, foreign exchange and taxation.
Yilwatda’s call for the campaign to demonstrate how policies and investments affect everyday life also highlights the importance of translating broad economic claims into evidence of practical outcomes for households, businesses and communities.
The government’s arguments are expected to be considered alongside the experiences of Nigerians, including concerns about the cost of living, employment, public services and the effects of economic adjustment.
For the APC, the campaign council will be responsible for coordinating the presentation of the administration’s record and its proposed direction for a second term.
Its effectiveness will depend on the ability of its national leadership and state structures to communicate consistent messages, engage different constituencies and respond to questions about the government’s performance.
Conclusion
The inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council marks a major organisational step in the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
President Tinubu has charged the council to work in unity, mobilise voters and communicate the administration’s policies while ensuring that governance continues without interruption.
The expanded council brings together senior APC figures, governors, ministers, legislators, former public office holders and political stakeholders, with responsibilities distributed across national leadership, regional coordination and sectoral mobilisation.
While the inauguration establishes the structure for the campaign, the task ahead will involve turning those appointments into coordinated political activity, explaining the administration’s record and engaging Nigerians on the issues that matter to them.
The President and his party leadership have expressed confidence in the council’s ability to deliver on its assignment. The coming campaign period will test that organisational capacity as the APC prepares to present its case to voters ahead of the 2027 general election.
