Tinubu Orders Review of APC 2027 Campaign Council List Amid Backlash Over Omissions
Abuja — President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review and reconstitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council following backlash over its initial composition, with the Presidency reportedly concerned that certain anomalies in the list could embarrass the campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.
The list, which named Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as vice chairmen, former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as secretary, was made public over the weekend. It quickly drew criticism from within and outside the party, with many pointing to what they described as unnecessary omissions and questionable inclusions among its 223 members.
Sources within the APC said the Presidency moved swiftly to revise the list once concerns were raised about signals its composition could send. A source who was involved in a previous campaign council noted that such revisions were not unprecedented, recalling that a similar recall and adjustment took place ahead of the 2023 election before the final list was inaugurated.
Much of the controversy centered on prominent figures whose names were missing from the document. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, the highest-ranking political office holder from the South-East, was notably absent, raising questions about the region’s level of representation. Concerns were also raised over the roles assigned to some National Assembly leaders, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio named Deputy Director-General for the Southern campaign, while House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni received other senior designations. Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda’s name was also said to be missing, despite his stated support for the administration, though he has since reaffirmed his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Ethnic and religious representation also featured heavily in the criticism. In Benue State, only three individuals made the list, all from the Idoma ethnic group, prompting complaints from Tiv community representatives who argued they had been sidelined despite their contribution to the president’s earlier victory. Separately, opposition figures and some party chieftains publicly questioned the credibility of certain individuals named to the council, describing parts of the list as a mix of untested and controversial political figures.
Sources familiar with the matter said Tinubu has directed his Chief of Staff and other Presidency officials to work with party leadership to fine-tune the list, with attention being paid to regional balance, National Assembly representation, and the overall credibility of those selected to drive the re-election campaign. Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Presidency on the review were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
The development comes as the APC intensifies preparations for the 2027 election, with the campaign council expected to play a central role in mobilizing support for Tinubu’s second-term bid across the country’s diverse regions.
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