President Bola Tinubu has directed the review and restructuring of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, following concerns over the composition of the initial team.
The decision reportedly came after several senior members of the ruling party raised concerns that prominent politicians, experienced campaigners and key stakeholders had been left out of the 223-member council initially announced by the Presidency.
Party sources indicated that the concerns were not limited to individual omissions but also involved the level of representation given to various regions, the National Assembly and important sections of the APC.
Following the development, the President is said to have instructed his Chief of Staff and other officials in the Presidency to work with the leadership of the National Assembly and the APC National Working Committee to examine the structure and make necessary adjustments.
The proposed review is expected to produce a broader campaign team capable of accommodating more influential party members and political leaders as the APC begins preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
The initial campaign council, announced on Saturday, had former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, appointed as Director-General. However, the composition immediately generated discussion within the party, particularly over the exclusion of some senior political figures.
One of the notable names missing from the list was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. His absence reportedly raised concerns because of his position as one of the most senior political figures from the South-East.
Questions were also raised about the distribution of responsibilities among members of the National Assembly. Senate President Godswill Akpabio was named Deputy Director-General for the Southern campaign, while Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were assigned other senior responsibilities.
Other lawmakers, including Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau, were also given coordinating roles. Some party stakeholders, however, reportedly believed that the arrangement did not adequately reflect the political ranking of the National Assembly leadership.
The review is therefore expected to reconsider the positions allocated to several political leaders and ensure broader participation across the party.
Some experienced APC campaign figures who were absent from the original list are also expected to receive consideration in the new arrangement. Among those mentioned are former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who played a leading role in the party’s 2023 presidential campaign, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who was involved in stakeholder engagement during the previous presidential campaign, was also not listed. Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who served as the National Youth Coordinator during the 2023 campaign, was another prominent omission.
Other notable APC figures reportedly left out of the initial structure include former Ogun State Governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, as well as former Edo State governorship candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The absence of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo also attracted attention, with party stakeholders reportedly considering his participation important to the APC’s mobilisation efforts in the South-South.
The planned restructuring is expected to accommodate more state governors, party leaders, lawmakers and experienced campaigners from different parts of the country.
Sources within the party reportedly described the first arrangement as too limited to adequately represent the APC’s wider political network. The proposed changes are therefore aimed at creating a more inclusive structure that can coordinate the party’s mobilisation efforts nationwide.
However, there is no indication that the appointment of Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General has been withdrawn. His position is expected to remain intact while the wider campaign council undergoes review.
The reconstituted council is expected to serve as a major platform for coordinating the APC’s campaign activities as President Tinubu prepares to seek another term in office in 2027.