…Akpabio, Abbas, Oshiomhole, Gbajabiamila, Uzodimma, Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, Ambode, Okorocha get strategic roles
Malik Yahya/
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally assembled the political machinery for his 2027 re-election battle, unveiling a sprawling All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council with former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General.
The membership list released on Saturday, August 22, 2026, places Tinubu firmly at the head of the campaign as Chairman, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, serving as Vice Chairmen.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was named Secretary of the council, with Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru as Deputy Secretary and Hadiza Bala Usman as Assistant Secretary.
The composition signals an expansive mobilisation strategy ahead of the January 2027 presidential election, drawing serving and former governors, National Assembly leaders, ministers, party heavyweights, technocrats, security figures and political organisers into a campaign structure stretching from the national headquarters down to polling units.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele were named Deputy Directors-General for the South, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Senator Barau Jibrin were assigned corresponding roles in the North.
Former Edo State governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, takes charge as Deputy Director-General for Mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, is Deputy Director-General for Administration.
James Abiodun Faleke, a key figure in Tinubu’s 2022/2023 campaign organisation, returns as Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring. Ibrahim Kabir Masari takes charge of Logistics and Operations, while former Katsina governor Aminu Bello Masari handles Parliamentary Mobilisation. Works Minister David Umahi is responsible for Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation.
Sanwo-Olu, Buni, Uba Sani Lead Zonal Campaigns
The APC also deployed influential political figures as zonal campaign coordinators.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will coordinate the South-West, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu the South-South and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah the South-East. Niger State Governor Umar Bago takes charge of the North-Central, former Borno State governor Modu Sheriff the North-East and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani the North-West.
The election planning machinery will operate through six zonal directors: Senator Olushola Adeyeye for the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme for the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife for the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe for the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso for the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi for the North-East.
Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori were named secretaries of the Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation Directorate.
Dapo Abiodun Heads Fundraising
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun will lead the campaign’s fundraising drive, assisted by Zacch Adedeji and Farouk Gumel, while Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim and the APC National Treasurer will serve as secretaries.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was named Director of Finance/Treasurer, with Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and Abubakar Kabir Bichi as deputies.
Former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Muiz Adeyemi Banire, SAN, will head the Legal Directorate. Dr Liman Hassan, SAN, and Babatunde Ogala, SAN, are his deputies.
The wider legal team includes Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; former Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shema; Worgu Boms; and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN.
Idris, Alake, Onanuga Lead Media Offensive
The campaign’s media and strategic communication apparatus brings together several of the Tinubu administration’s leading communicators.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi, Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu were appointed Coordinating Directors of Media and Strategic Communication.
Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka will serve as Coordinating Deputy Directors.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Temitope Ajayi, Aderonke and Fredrick Nwabufo were named coordinating secretaries, while Segun Dada returns as Director of New Media, assisted by Solomon Arowolo as secretary.
Five presidential campaign spokespersons were also appointed, led by Dele Alake. The others are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Feyisetan Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
Fashola, Ambode, Anyim Join Political Mobilisation
The council draws heavily on former governors and senior political figures.
Former Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola was named South-West Zonal Coordinator for Stakeholders’ Mobilisation, while former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim will coordinate the South-East.
Former Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode also appears in the Contact Mobilisation team alongside former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Rochas Okorocha, Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, among others.
Tinubu will additionally work with a five-member advisory team comprising APC elder Chief Bisi Akande, Senator Rochas Okorocha, former APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Chief Segun Osoba and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
The campaign structure extends into specialised directorates covering youth, women, persons with disabilities, sports, creative industries, civil society, diaspora, health, agriculture, financial and technology services, extractive industries, education, manufacturing and MSMEs, faith-based mobilisation, labour relations, grassroots engagement, security and intelligence, data management and digital operations.
The document ultimately takes the campaign organisation beyond Abuja into states, local government areas, wards and individual polling units.
At polling-unit level, the APC blueprint provides for representatives of candidates and party officials as well as 15 youth mobilisers, 15 women mobilisers, 10 community elders and five community religious leaders, underscoring the party’s planned grassroots reach ahead of the election.
Tinubu: We Are Out of the Dark Tunnel
In a statement announcing the council, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu charged members to work tirelessly to secure victory for the APC in the January 2027 election.
The President also urged directorate heads to bring other party members who were not formally listed into the campaign effort, effectively throwing the mobilisation drive open to the wider APC family.
Tinubu said his administration would campaign on its record in office, declaring that Nigeria had moved beyond its most difficult economic phase.
“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians.”
He urged campaign officials to take the administration’s achievements across the country and “soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”
With its multi-layered structure running from the Presidency to polling units, the newly unveiled council effectively fires the starting gun on the APC’s organised campaign to retain the Presidency in 2027.
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