Isaac Samuel
The Presidency has remained silent over reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal and reconstitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election.
Tinubu reportedly directed the recall of the campaign council list released by the Presidency on Saturday, following concerns raised by senior members of the ruling party over its composition.
The President was said to have ordered the Presidency, the leadership of the National Assembly and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to review the list and address perceived gaps before a new composition is released.
However, the Presidency has not publicly confirmed the reported directive.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the original campaign council on Saturday, did not respond to inquiries seeking confirmation of the reported withdrawal as of the time of filing this report.
The reported move comes barely two days after the Presidency announced a 108-member campaign council, with Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima as vice chairman and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as another vice chairman.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was appointed secretary.
The initial list also named Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni as deputy directors-general for the campaign in the South and North.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau were assigned coordinating roles, while former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was named Deputy Director-General in charge of mobilisation.
But the composition reportedly triggered concerns within the APC, particularly over the exclusion of some prominent party figures and experienced campaigners.
Among those reportedly omitted were Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello; former Ogun State governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun; and former Edo State governorship candidate Osagie
The omission of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo was also said to have generated concerns among party stakeholders.
The controversy reportedly centred not only on omissions but also on the hierarchy and distribution of positions within the campaign structure.
It was gathered that some senior APC members were unhappy with what they considered inadequate representation of the party’s hierarchy, geographical spread and political structure.
Tinubu is said to be concerned that there had been limited input from key and experienced party members in the final composition.
The development would represent a significant reversal of the campaign structure announced on Saturday, although there is no official indication yet that Yari’s appointment as
Meanwhile, the campaign council’s original composition has continued to attract reactions from within and outside the ruling party. The list had generated mixed reactions, including criticism over the participation of serving public officers in a partisan campaign structure and inclusion of Beta Edu who was sacked as Minister for corruption and Mrs Ojeme who is facing money laundering charges by the EFCC.
