Tinubu Unveils 2027 Campaign War Council, Picks Yari as DG

• Uzodimma named secretary, Akpabio, Abass, Buni take key regional roles
• Alake leads five-member team of campaign spokespersons
• President tells council: Showcase our record, defeat forces seeking to take Nigeria backwards

President Bola Tinubu has formally assembled the political machinery for his 2027 re-election campaign, naming former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

The composition of the council, released by the Presidency on Saturday, puts Tinubu at the head of a broad campaign structure drawing together senior APC figures, governors, National Assembly leaders, ministers, presidential aides and veteran party strategists ahead of the January 2027 elections.

Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as vice chairmen.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was appointed Secretary of the council, with APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and former presidential aide Hadiza Bala-Usman serving as deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.

The council also features a group of senior political advisers comprising former APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha; former APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

The campaign structure assigns prominent roles to the leadership of the National Assembly and some governors.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass, and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed deputy directors-general for the campaign in the South and North. They will work alongside Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau in the two zones.

Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, will serve as Deputy Director-General in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff will oversee administration as a deputy director-general.

James Abiodun Faleke, who played a major role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination, and Monitoring.

Under the election planning structure, Senator Olushola Adeyeye will coordinate the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso the North-Central, and Senator Sani Danladi the North-East.

Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat, and Audu Maikori were named secretaries of the election planning directorate.

The legal arm of the campaign will be headed by Muiz Adeyemi Banire, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala serving as deputies.

Other members of the legal team include Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema; Worgu Boms; and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.

The Presidency also unveiled an extensive media and strategic communications operation to drive Tinubu’s campaign message across the country.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, will serve as Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, and Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala, and APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, were named coordinating deputy directors.

Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke, and Frederick Nwabufor will serve as coordinating secretaries of the media directorate.

Segun Dada retains the New Media portfolio he handled during the 2022 campaign, serving as Director of New Media, with Solomon Arowolo as secretary.

The campaign also named a five-member team of spokespersons headed by Dele Alake. Other members are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, and Adamu Fanda.

With the campaign command structure now in place, Tinubu charged members of the council to work relentlessly towards securing another victory for the APC in the January 2027 elections.

He also directed heads of the various directorates to broaden participation by bringing in party members who were not formally named in the council but could contribute to the campaign.

Tinubu said the central message of his re-election bid would be the record of his administration since assuming office in 2023, arguing that the government’s economic reforms had begun moving the country towards recovery and growth.

“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress,” the President said.

“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.”

Tinubu urged the campaign organisation to take what he described as the administration’s achievements to Nigerians and make them the centrepiece of the APC’s case for another mandate.

“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,” he said.

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

The announcement effectively fires the starting gun on Tinubu’s organised campaign for a second term, with Yari now responsible for coordinating a nationwide political operation that will seek to defend the administration’s record and mobilise support for the APC as the battle for 2027 gathers momentum.