TINUBU, APC GOVERNORS BEGIN FRESH TALKS TO RESOLVE CAMPAIGN COUNCIL DISPUTE

President Bola Tinubu and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have intensified efforts to resolve the controversy surrounding the party’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council list.

Tinubu met with the APC governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday as part of a series of consultations aimed at reviewing the campaign structure and addressing concerns raised since the list was released on August 23.

The governors arrived at the Presidential Villa shortly before 4pm after attending a separate meeting of the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The discussions followed an earlier meeting that lasted several hours on Wednesday but ended without a final resolution.

The campaign council list, which contains 223 names, had generated criticism within the ruling party, particularly over the inclusion of some chieftains facing corruption-related charges. There were also complaints that some important sections of the APC were not adequately consulted before the list was compiled.

Party sources said the initial list had been reviewed, while the version previously published on the APC’s official X account was reportedly deleted. A new list is expected to be released after the proposed adjustments receive the President’s approval.

The controversy has also prompted questions over how the campaign structure was constituted, with a senior party source alleging that the APC itself was not sufficiently involved in preparing the original list.

The initial structure named Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as vice chairmen, while Senator Abdulaziz Yari was appointed Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named Secretary.

The expanded campaign council also created directorates covering finance, education, manufacturing and MSMEs, extractive industries, faith-based mobilisation, labour relations, grassroots engagement, digital operations, support groups and welfare.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, had earlier explained that the list was not final because several subcommittees were yet to be constituted. He said adjustments could therefore be made where necessary without amounting to a complete overhaul of the campaign structure.

Dare also maintained that the APC had not formally withdrawn the list, explaining that the proposed changes would allow additional party members and political stakeholders to be accommodated through the various subcommittees.

Meanwhile, the ruling party is considering increased social intervention programmes ahead of the 2027 elections as part of efforts to connect with Nigerians and respond to concerns over economic hardship.

The ongoing consultations between Tinubu, APC governors and other party leaders are expected to produce an adjusted campaign structure that addresses the concerns raised by party stakeholders while strengthening the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.