By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will personally lead the All Progressives Congress, APC, charge for the January 2027 presidential election as the party unveiled a sweeping campaign council on Saturday with *Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary.
According to the list released by the State House, the President will serve as Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda* will serve as Vice Chairmen.
The appointments signal the party’s intention to deploy its top political and legislative heavyweights early for the 2027 race.
Key Appointments
Former Zamfara governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari will run the day-to-day operations as DG. He will be supported by APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru as Deputy Secretary and Hadiza Bala-Usman as Assistant Secretary.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named Secretary of the council.
President Tinubu will also be guided by an advisory body comprising party elders Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
For zonal coordination, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni were named Deputy Director-Generals for the South and North. They will work with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Jibril Barau.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole will oversee mobilisation as Deputy DG, while the President’s Chief of Staff takes charge of administration.
Election Planning and Legal Teams
James Faleke, who played a central role in the 2023 campaign, returns as Deputy DG for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring.
Faleke will lead six zonal directors: Senator Olushola Adeyeye, South West; Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, South; Senator Uche Ekwunife, South East; Muntaqha Rabe, North West; Ahmed Ketso, North Central; and Senator Sani Danladi, North East.
Secretaries for the election planning directorate are Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat, and Audu Maikori.
The legal directorate will be headed by Muiz Banire, SAN, with Dr. Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Members include AGF Lateef Fagbemi, ex-Governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms, and Dr. Kingsley Udeh.
Media and Communication
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris was named Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication. He will work with Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, and Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Coordinating Deputy Directors are Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala, and Felix Morka.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz leads the secretariat with Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke, and Frederick Nwabufor, Segun Dada returns as Director of New Media, with *Solomon Arowolo as Secretary.
The party also named five spokespersons led by Dele Alake. Others are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, and Adamu Fanda
In his charge to the council, President Tinubu urged members to “work tirelessly to deliver victory” and to reach out to other party stakeholders not formally listed.
“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 said.
“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. Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”
