President Bola Tinubu and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have intensified consultations over the party’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council following controversy surrounding the composition of the campaign structure.
Tinubu met with APC governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday as party leaders continued efforts to resolve disagreements that emerged after the 223-member campaign council was unveiled on August 22.
The meeting followed another lengthy round of discussions involving the Presidency and senior APC figures, as the party considers adjustments to the structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The controversy began shortly after the council's membership was made public, with some party members questioning the inclusion of certain individuals and the absence of other stakeholders. There were also complaints that parts of the party hierarchy and some groups that supported Tinubu during the 2023 election were not adequately represented.
The original council was headed by Tinubu as chairman, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as vice chairmen. Former Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari was appointed Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named secretary.
The structure also assigned responsibilities to senior political figures across areas including mobilisation, election planning, finance, grassroots engagement, digital operations, education, labour relations, support groups and strategic communication.
However, the composition quickly generated internal criticism, with some APC officials and support groups arguing that they had been overlooked in the allocation of positions. Other concerns focused on the inclusion of people whose names had attracted controversy outside the campaign structure.
The Presidency initially maintained that the council had not been withdrawn. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the structure remained valid but could be adjusted as additional subcommittees were created.
Dare explained that the campaign structure was not yet final because several subcommittees had not been constituted, leaving room for more party members and political stakeholders to participate.
The latest consultations, however, indicate that the controversy has become a more significant issue for the ruling party. Reports from the Thursday meeting said the original list was being reworked, while the APC's earlier publication was no longer available on its official X account.
The exact changes to the campaign council had not been formally announced as of Friday morning. This makes it important to distinguish between confirmed changes and proposals being discussed within the party.
The disagreement comes at an early but increasingly active stage of preparations for the 2027 presidential election. Although the formal campaign period is still ahead, political parties have begun organising their structures, strengthening grassroots networks and positioning prominent figures for the contest.
For the APC, resolving the disagreement is particularly important because the campaign council is expected to coordinate the party's nationwide effort to secure Tinubu's re-election.
The party has also indicated that its campaign strategy will include greater emphasis on communicating the administration's economic policies and social intervention programmes to voters.
Tinubu has urged members of the campaign structure to highlight what his administration considers its major achievements and to work together toward retaining power in 2027.
The dispute nevertheless illustrates the challenges involved in balancing the interests of the Presidency, elected officials, party executives, long-standing political allies and support groups within a large ruling party.
For stakeholders who feel excluded, the campaign council is not simply an administrative arrangement but also an opportunity to secure influence and recognition ahead of a major national election.
The current discussions therefore appear aimed at producing a structure that gives wider representation while retaining the leadership framework already announced by the party.
Until the APC formally publishes an updated list, claims about specific individuals being removed, added or reassigned should be treated cautiously.
What is clear is that Tinubu and APC governors are working to contain the disagreement and reach a broader consensus on the campaign machinery before the party moves deeper into the 2027 electoral cycle.
The outcome of the consultations will determine whether the proposed adjustments are sufficient to settle the concerns raised by party officials and other stakeholders.
For the APC, the immediate priority is to resolve the internal dispute without allowing disagreements over appointments to distract from the wider task of organising for the 2027 presidential contest.
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