Tinubu Unveils 2027 APC Campaign Council as Yari Emerges DG

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election, putting a major part of the ruling party's campaign structure in place as political activities intensify across Nigeria.

The council will be chaired by President Tinubu, while Vice President Kashim Shettima will serve as Vice-Chairman I. APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has also been named Vice-Chairman II.

One of the most notable appointments is that of former Zamfara State Governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who has been selected as the campaign's Director-General.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Yari Gets Campaign Director-General Role

Yari's appointment places the former Zamfara governor at the centre of the APC's national campaign operation.

The former governor has considerable political experience within the party and previously served as governor of Zamfara State.

His appointment comes after weeks of speculation about who would take charge of the APC's campaign machinery.

Earlier reports had suggested that Yari and Uzodimma were among the names being considered for senior campaign positions.

The final arrangement gives Yari the Director-General position while Uzodimma takes the secretary role.

Uzodimma Named Secretary

Uzodimma's inclusion is also significant.

The Imo governor chairs the Progressive Governors' Forum, giving him an important position within the APC's network of serving governors.

He will now work alongside Yari and other senior party figures to coordinate the campaign as the party seeks to retain the presidency in 2027.

The appointment also comes shortly after the APC suffered an electoral setback in the Osun State governorship election, where Governor Ademola Adeleke retained the seat for the PDP.

The Osun result had reportedly complicated discussions around the composition of the campaign council, particularly concerning the roles of some party leaders involved in the state's campaign.

Who Else Is Involved?

The campaign council includes a large number of senior APC figures.

Senator Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, has been named Deputy Secretary, while Hadiza Bala-Usman will serve as Assistant Secretary.

A body of advisers working under Tinubu includes prominent party figures such as:

• Bisi Akande

• Segun Osoba

• Rochas Okorocha

• Abdullahi Adamu

• Florence Ita-Giwa

Other senior politicians have also been assigned responsibilities across the campaign's various directorates.

Akpabio, Abbas and Buni Get Senior Roles

The campaign structure also includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.

They have been assigned senior deputy director-general roles for different parts of the campaign structure, alongside other political leaders.

The appointments demonstrate the APC's intention to draw on the party's existing political structures across the federal and state levels.

Faleke Returns to Campaign Team

Another familiar name returning to the APC's campaign machinery is James Abiodun Faleke.

Faleke, who played an important role in the party's 2022/2023 presidential campaign, has been appointed Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring.

He will work with zonal directors covering the six geopolitical zones.

The South-West, South-South, South-East, North-West, North-Central and North-East will each have designated campaign officials.

Media Team Takes Shape

The APC has also established a substantial media and communications structure.

Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi will serve as coordinating director for media and strategic communication.

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

The media directorate also includes Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka.

Segun Dada has been returned as Director of New Media, a role he previously held during the 2022 campaign.

The campaign has also appointed five spokespersons, led by Dele Alake.

Tinubu Says APC Has Achievements to Promote

Speaking after the council was constituted, Tinubu told members to work towards securing victory for the APC in the January 2027 elections.

The President said his administration had delivered achievements that the campaign should communicate to voters.

According to the statement released by his media team, Tinubu argued that Nigeria was moving towards economic progress and urged campaign officials to present the administration's record to voters.

The President also encouraged campaign officials to reach out to APC members who were not included on the formal list but could contribute to the party's efforts.

2027 Campaign Season Underway

The formation of the campaign council comes shortly after the formal campaign window for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections opened.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had set August 19, 2026 as the start date for campaigns for those elections.

The APC's new structure therefore comes as the major political parties begin shifting from internal preparations towards direct engagement with voters.

President Tinubu is seeking another term, while opposition candidates including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are also preparing their own campaign structures.

That means the coming months are likely to see a significant increase in rallies, policy announcements, political advertising and grassroots mobilisation.

The Osun Setback Adds Pressure

The APC's campaign structure is being announced at an interesting political moment.

The party recently lost the Osun governorship election to the PDP, with Adeleke securing another term.

The result has generated internal discussions within the APC about its electoral strategy and the need to strengthen its grassroots structures ahead of 2027.

The campaign council will therefore face the challenge of translating the party's national political strength into votes across individual states.

What People Are Saying Online

The announcement has already generated political discussion online, particularly around Yari's appointment as Director-General.

Some APC supporters have welcomed the structure, describing the appointment of experienced political figures as evidence that the ruling party is taking the 2027 contest seriously.

Others are questioning whether the large number of senior politicians involved will make the campaign more effective or create competing centres of influence.

Yari's appointment has also attracted attention because his name had been circulating for weeks as a possible candidate for the Director-General position.

There is also discussion around the inclusion of senior government officials and politicians who will now have to balance their official responsibilities with campaign activities.

A Bigger Battle Ahead

The 2027 presidential election is shaping up as a competitive contest, with several major political figures positioning themselves for the race.

For the APC, the immediate task is to defend the record of the Tinubu administration while convincing voters that another term is necessary.

The opposition, meanwhile, is expected to focus heavily on the cost of living, security, unemployment and the impact of economic reforms.

The campaign council will therefore have to develop a message capable of addressing both the administration's achievements and the concerns of Nigerians who continue to face economic difficulties.

What Happens Next?

With the APC campaign council now formally constituted, attention will shift towards its programme of activities.

The party will have to organise its national and grassroots operations, coordinate messaging and prepare candidates and supporters for what is expected to be a long political campaign.

The appointments also provide a clearer picture of the individuals who will be responsible for selling Tinubu's record to Nigerian voters.

Whether the structure can translate the APC's political organisation into another presidential victory will ultimately be decided at the ballot box.

For now, however, one thing is clear: the APC has officially moved into campaign mode for 2027.

What People Are Saying on X

The online reaction is centred on several themes:

• Yari's appointment as Director-General, with users debating whether he is the right person to lead the campaign.

• Uzodimma's role as secretary, particularly given his position within the Progressive Governors' Forum.

• The size of the campaign structure and whether having so many senior figures will improve coordination.

• The APC's recent Osun defeat, with some users asking whether the party has learned lessons from the result.

• Tinubu's claim that the administration has achievements to “trumpet,” which has triggered arguments between supporters and critics over the government's economic record.

As always, social-media reactions should be viewed as expressions of opinion rather than evidence of electoral support or opposition.

Sources

• Vanguard — Presidency names 108-man APC Presidential Campaign Council

• P.M. News — Tinubu says APC has achievements to trumpet

• People's Voice — APC campaign council appointments

• The Western Post — Yari named campaign DG, Uzodimma secretary

• The Guardian — APC grassroots mobilisation ahead of 2027