President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal and reconstitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, following backlash over the initial list released by the Presidency on Saturday.
According to TheWill, Tinubu issued the directive after senior party members raised concerns that the council’s composition failed to reflect the party’s hierarchy, geographical spread, and political structure. The President has reportedly directed the Presidency, National Assembly leadership, and the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) to review the list and address the gaps before a new version is released.
Sources say Tinubu was embarrassed by the lapses and concerned that the campaign structure did not sufficiently bring together the party’s key stakeholders ahead of 2027. One source said the President was “shocked and surprised” at how little input came from experienced party figures in finalising the list.
The original list, to be headed by former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General, drew criticism for omitting several prominent APC figures.
Chief among the concerns was the exclusion of House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu. There was also unease over the placement of Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a Deputy Director-General for the Southern campaign — a role that put him alongside House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, and effectively on the same rung as Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau. Stakeholders argued this understated Akpabio’s constitutional rank, and the new list will need to correct the imbalance.
Also missing was Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, who was a key campaign spokesman in 2023. Other notable omissions included former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who led the 2023 campaign council as Director-General; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who headed Stakeholders Relations in 2023; and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who served as National Youth Coordinator.
Former Ogun State Governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, and former Edo governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, were also left out. The exclusion of sitting Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo — a key APC voice in South-South mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election — has also drawn attention.
Despite the review, there is no indication that Tinubu has withdrawn Yari’s appointment as Director-General.
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