President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are officially at the helm of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, gearing up for the January 2027 elections. The party announced the appointments on Saturday, placing Tinubu as chairman and Shettima as vice chairman. This move signals the APC's intent to consolidate its leadership as it heads into another electoral cycle.
Leading the day-to-day operations as Director-General is Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor of Zamfara State. He'll be supported by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC National Chairman, who also takes on a vice chairmanship role within the campaign council. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has been appointed as the council's secretary, coordinating administrative duties.
The campaign council is structured with several key deputy director-general roles. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, is tasked with mobilisation. The President’s Chief of Staff will oversee administration. James Abiodun Faleke, who played a significant role in the previous presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination, and monitoring.
Key figures from the Senate and the House of Representatives have also been assigned prominent positions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas are appointed as deputy directors-general for the southern and northern regions, respectively. They'll work alongside Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and other regional coordinators like Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau.
The council includes a dedicated directorate for media and strategic communication, headed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. He'll work closely with experienced media figures such as Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, and Lanre Issa-Onilu. Five spokespersons have been appointed, with Dele Alake leading the team that also includes Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, and Adamu Fanda.
President Tinubu has charged the campaign council members to work diligently towards securing victory for the APC. He specifically urged leaders of the various directorates to ensure that party members not formally included in the council are also engaged. "We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress," the President stated during the announcement. He added, "We're 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 expressed confidence in the party's achievements, urging the council to showcase their record. "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," he charged.
The advisory body of the campaign council is packed with party stalwarts, including Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa. This assembly of elder statesmen is expected to provide strategic guidance and lend significant weight to the campaign efforts.
Beyond the top leadership, the APC Presidential Campaign Council has established several specialised directorates to manage different aspects of the campaign. These include a Legal Directorate headed by Muiz Adeyemi Banire, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. The Media Directorate's coordinating directors are Mohammed Idris, Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, and Lanre Issa-Onilu, supported by several deputy directors and secretaries, including Tunde Rahman and Felix Morka. The Election Planning Directorate will see secretaries like Stella Okotete and Audu Maikori working alongside Faleke's team, with zonal directors appointed across all six geopolitical zones to ensure comprehensive coverage and engagement.