…President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will chair the council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima as vice chairman.
SAT AUG 22 2026-theGBJournal| The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, putting in place a broad political and communications structure as the contest for Nigeria’s presidency begins to gather momentum.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will chair the council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima as vice chairman.
APC national chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda will also serve as vice chairman, while former Zamfara State governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari has been appointed director-general.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary, alongside APC national secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru and Hadiza Bala-Usman as deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.
The appointments bring several senior party figures, governors, lawmakers and officials from Tinubu’s administration into the campaign structure, underscoring the ruling party’s effort to consolidate its political machinery ahead of the 2027 presidential poll.
The council’s advisory team includes Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni have been appointed deputy director-generals for the southern and northern blocs.
They will work alongside Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Jibril Barau.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole will oversee mobilisation as deputy director-general, while the President’s Chief of Staff will take responsibility for administration.
James Abiodun Faleke, who played a prominent role in the 2022/23 presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Faleke will work with zonal directors covering the six geopolitical zones: Senator Olushola Adeyeye in the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme in the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife in the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe in the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso in the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi in the North-East.
The election planning directorate will also include Stella Okotete, Engineer Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori as secretaries.
The legal directorate will be headed by Muiz Adeyemi Banire, supported by Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies.
Other members include Attorney-General Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
The party has also assembled a heavyweight media and strategic communications team.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi will serve as coordinating director, working alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka have been appointed coordinating deputy directors, while Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke and Frederick Nwabufor will serve as coordinating secretaries.
Segun Dada returns as director of new media, the same position he held during the 2022/23 campaign, with Solomon Arowolo appointed secretary of the new media directorate.
The campaign’s five spokespersons will be led by Dele Alake, with Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda joining the communications team.
Tinubu has directed members of the council to work towards securing victory for the APC in the January 2027 election.
He also urged directorate heads to bring in other party members who were not included in the formal list but could contribute to the campaign.
In a message to the council, Tinubu framed the election as a referendum on his administration’s economic record, arguing that the government had delivered on its promises and placed Nigeria on a path towards stronger growth.
“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress.”
He added: “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.”
“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.”
The unveiling of the council marks a significant step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, signalling that the governing party is moving from political positioning towards a more formal campaign footing.
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