The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted its Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, appointed Director-General.

The party also appointed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary of the campaign council, according to a list released on Saturday.

The development signals the APC’s early mobilisation for the 2027 presidential election, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima named Chairman and Vice Chairman of the campaign council respectively.

The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as another Vice Chairman.

The appointments were contained in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Yari Emerges Campaign DG

Yari’s appointment is one of the major highlights of the campaign council.

The former Zamfara governor and former senator will be responsible for coordinating the APC’s presidential campaign as the party seeks to secure victory for Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Uzodimma, who is also a prominent figure in the APC’s South-East structure, will serve as Secretary.

Senator Ajibola Bashiru, the APC National Secretary, was named Deputy Secretary, while Hadiza Bala-Usman will serve as Assistant Secretary.

Akpabio, Abbas, Buni Get Key Roles

The APC also assigned senior political figures to oversee mobilisation across different parts of the country.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were named Deputy Directors-General for the campaign in the southern and northern regions.

They will work alongside Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Jibril Barau.

Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was appointed Deputy Director-General in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff will oversee administration.

Another notable return is James Abiodun Faleke, who played a major role in the APC’s 2023 presidential campaign.

Faleke has been appointed Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring.

APC Brings Back 2023 Campaign Strategy

Faleke’s return is expected to attract attention within APC circles because of his previous role in the party’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign.

He will coordinate election planning alongside 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.

Dele Alake, Onanuga Lead Media Team

The media and strategic communications structure also features several prominent members of the Tinubu administration.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris was appointed Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication.

He will work with Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Other officials named to the media directorate include Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka.

Segun Dada, who served as Director of New Media during the previous presidential campaign, will retain the same role for the 2027 campaign.

He will work with Solomon Arowolo, who was appointed Secretary of New Media.

The campaign council also named five spokespersons, led by Dele Alake. The other spokespersons are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.

Tinubu: APC Must ‘Soundly Defeat’ Opposition

In his message to the campaign council, President Tinubu charged members to work tirelessly to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 presidential election.

The President also urged campaign leaders to involve other party members who may not have been formally listed in the council.

Tinubu said the APC would campaign on the record of his administration and what he described as economic progress achieved since taking office.

“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress,” Tinubu said.

He urged the campaign team to highlight the administration’s achievements and give Nigerians reasons to support the APC.

“Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards,” the President added.

Why the APC Campaign Council Matters

The composition of the council gives an early indication of how the APC intends to approach the 2027 presidential election, particularly in terms of regional mobilisation, election planning, legal strategy and media communication.

With Yari taking charge of the campaign structure and Uzodimma serving as Secretary, the ruling party has now moved from political preparations to a more formal campaign organisation.

The development is also likely to intensify political activity ahead of 2027 as opposition parties begin positioning their own structures and strategies for the presidential contest.

For BONA NAIJA readers, the biggest questions will now be how the APC campaign structure will perform across Nigeria, who will emerge as the major opposition challengers to Tinubu, and whether the ruling party can convert its current political structure into another presidential victory in 2027.

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