2027: APC campaign council restricts ministers, members to rallies in home states

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has directed ministers, political appointees and members of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council to attend campaign rallies only in their respective home states, as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The directive is contained in a circular signed by Abdulaziz Yari, director-general of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, and addressed to all directors and heads of directorates.

The circular, titled Guidelines on Participation at Campaign Rallies, said the measure was intended to ensure effective coordination of campaign activities and strengthen grassroots mobilisation across the country.

According to the document, “campaign rallies are designed to energise the APC in the states and zones, and to communicate the achievements of His Excellency, the President, to the electorate.”

Under the guidelines, ministers and other political appointees are required to attend rallies only in their home states, where they are expected to concentrate on mobilising supporters across their polling units, wards and Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The council said the directive was in line with the campaign’s ‘pyramid concept’, which prioritises grassroots mobilisation and coordination.

Members of the Presidential Campaign Council are also restricted to rallies in their respective home states.

Beyond attending the rallies, they are expected to implement their directorates’ approved work plans and budgets and undertake grassroots mobilisation within their constituencies.

The circular also outlined responsibilities for members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

It directed NWC members, except the National Chairman, National Secretary, National Women’s Leader, National Youth Leader and National Organising Secretary, to “concentrate on their party responsibilities and on mobilisation activities in their respective states and zones.”

However, the circular stated that NWC members are expected to attend rallies organised in their home states.

It also directed directorates without specific responsibilities at campaign rallies to focus on implementing their approved work plans and budgets rather than participate in rally activities.

The council said the arrangement was intended to ensure that campaign activities were organised in a manner that advanced the party’s objectives.

The Presidential Campaign Council further stressed that it was seeking to strengthen the visibility of the APC’s candidates for State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate at campaign rallies.

It urged directors to ensure that the circular was communicated to all officers within their respective directorates and that its provisions were strictly observed.

The guidelines come as the APC steps up preparations for its campaign activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which Mr Tinubu is seeking re-election.

The rally’s itinerary

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the APC has commenced its 2027 presidential campaign rallies, with the flag-off held in Kaduna on 24 October.

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The party’s proposed nationwide schedule provides for rallies across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, but Mr Tinubu is expected to personally attend rallies in only 12 states. The other rallies are expected to be handled by party leaders and campaign officials.

Since the flag-off, the APC has held rallies in Kaduna, Cross River and Gombe states. The Kaduna rally on 24 October was attended by Mr Tinubu, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima led the party’s campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, on 2 November. The party’s schedule also listed Gombe for 3 November.

The 12 states where Mr Tinubu is expected to personally attend rallies are Kaduna, Rivers, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The proposed itinerary runs from October 2026 to January 2027, with the grand finale scheduled for Lagos on 9 January 2027.