President Bola Tinubu has formally constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, assembling a high-powered political structure headed by former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was appointed Secretary of the campaign council as the ruling party begins preparations for what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential election.
The appointments were contained in a statement issued by the Presidency on Saturday morning and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the campaign council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima will occupy the position of Vice-Chairman I. The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, was named Vice-Chairman II.
The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, will serve as Deputy Secretary, while Hadiza Bala-Usman was appointed Assistant Secretary.
The President will also be supported by a council of advisers comprising former APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande; veteran politician, Segun Osoba; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
The campaign council brings together senior party leaders, serving governors, lawmakers, political strategists and key figures from the Tinubu administration as the APC moves to consolidate its political machinery ahead of 2027.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed Deputy Directors-General responsible for the campaign’s South and North zones.
They will work alongside Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Jibril Barau in coordinating the party’s campaign activities across the country.
Former Edo State Governor and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was appointed Deputy Director-General for Mobilisation, placing him at the centre of the party’s efforts to strengthen its grassroots political structure and mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was named Deputy Director-General for Administration.
James Faleke, who played a prominent role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring.
Faleke will oversee the zonal directors assigned to the six geopolitical zones.
The zonal directors are 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 appointed secretaries of the Election Planning Directorate.
The Legal Directorate will be headed by Muiz Banire, SAN, as Director, with Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala appointed as deputies.
The campaign’s media and strategic communication operation will be coordinated by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
He will work alongside the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Strategy, Dele Alake; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; and Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka were appointed Coordinating Deputy Directors of the directorate, while Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Temitope Ajayi, Aderonke Arabirin and Frederick Nwabufo will serve as coordinating secretaries.
Segun Dada, who held a similar position during the party’s 2022 presidential campaign, returns as Director of New Media, with Solomon Arowolo appointed Secretary.
The campaign council also named five spokespersons, with Dele Alake leading the team alongside Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
Inaugurating the campaign structure, Tinubu charged members of the council to work towards securing victory for the APC in the 2027 presidential election.
The President also directed leaders of the various directorates to reach out to other party members who were not formally listed in the campaign council and encourage them to contribute to the campaign effort.
Tinubu, while defending the record of his administration, told members of the campaign team that his government had fulfilled its campaign promises and placed Nigeria on the path of economic recovery.
“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,” the President said.
He urged the campaign council to make the administration’s achievements a central part of its message to Nigerians as the 2027 election approaches.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He further urged the campaign team to confront opposition forces at the polls, declaring: “Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”
The unveiling of the APC presidential campaign structure signals the formal intensification of the ruling party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
With Tinubu expected to seek a second term, the composition of the campaign council places some of the APC’s most influential political figures, government officials and election strategists at the centre of the President’s re-election machinery.
The development comes as political parties, opposition blocs and prospective presidential aspirants across the country intensify consultations, alliances and mobilisation ahead of what is expected to be another highly competitive presidential contest in 2027.