Tinubu names APC presidential campaign council, Yari emerges DG

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the January 2027 presidential election, naming former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, as its Director-General.

The composition of the council was announced on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication of the campaign council.

Mr Tinubu will serve as chairman of the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima will be vice chairman. APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, is also designated as a vice chairman.

Mr Yari, a former governor and senator representing Zamfara West, will serve as Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will be the council’s secretary.

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, and Hadiza Bala-Usman will serve as deputy and assistant secretaries, respectively.

The campaign council will have an advisory body comprising former APC national chairman Bisi Akande; veteran journalist and politician Segun Osoba; former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha; former APC national chairman Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni have been appointed deputy director-generals for the southern and northern parts of the country.

They will work with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau in the two zones.

Former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole will serve as deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will oversee administration as deputy director-general.

James Faleke, who played a prominent role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general in charge of election planning, coordination and monitoring.

He will work with zonal directors, including Senator Olushola Adeyeye in the South-West, Ngozi Olejeme in the South-South, Uche Ekwunife in the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe in the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso in the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi in the North-East.

Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori will serve as secretaries of the election planning directorate.

The legal directorate will be headed by Muiz Adeyemi Banire, with Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members include Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms and Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.

For media and strategic communication, Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris will serve as coordinating director, alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka have been appointed coordinating deputy directors in the media directorate.

Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Aderonke Ogunleye and Frederick Nwabufor will serve as coordinating secretaries.

Segun Dada, who held the same position during the 2022/2023 campaign, returns as Director of New Media, with Solomon Arowolo as secretary.

The council also named five spokespersons, led by Mr Alake. The others are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.

Mr Onanuga said Mr Tinubu had charged members of the council to work tirelessly to secure the APC’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

He said the President also urged leaders of the various directorates to reach out to other party members who were not formally listed but could contribute to the campaign.

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According to Mr Onanuga, Mr Tinubu said the administration had “delivered on our campaign promises” and put Nigeria on the path of economic progress.

He quoted President Tinubu as saying the country was “out of the dark tunnel” and approaching the benefits of a prosperous economy.

“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,” Mr Tinubu said.

He added: “Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”

The APC is expected to commence a more structured nationwide campaign as the 2027 presidential contest draws closer.

BELOW IS THE FULL LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE 2027 APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL.