By Edwin Nwachukwu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has named prominent opposition politicians, serving governors and senior government officials in its revised 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, highlighting the ruling party’s effort to build a broad political structure ahead of the next general election.
The list, released on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, names President Bola Tinubu as chairman, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as vice-chairmen. However, the inclusion of politicians affiliated with other parties, particularly Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, raises questions about the political calculations behind the appointments.
APC Looks Beyond Party Membership
The appointments stand out because Wike belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Soludo belongs to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Adeleke has also maintained his political identity outside the APC.
Their inclusion suggests that the ruling party wants to draw on political relationships and influence that extend beyond its formal membership as it prepares for the 2027 presidential election.
Wike’s appointment as campaign coordinator for Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory is particularly significant. As a former Rivers State governor and a serving minister in the Tinubu administration, he occupies an important position in the federal government despite his PDP affiliation.
His role raises questions about how the APC intends to reconcile his party membership with his responsibilities within the ruling party’s presidential campaign structure. It also highlights the distinction between formal party allegiance and political cooperation at the federal level.
Meanwhile, Adeleke’s appointment as Osun campaign coordinator and Soludo’s designation for Anambra indicate that the APC’s campaign structure includes politicians whose formal party affiliations differ from its own.
However, the appointments alone do not establish that these governors have defected to the APC or formally endorsed its presidential candidate. Their precise commitments to the campaign would require further clarification.
A National Campaign Built Around Political Influence
The revised council places several of Nigeria’s most prominent political officeholders in leadership positions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will serve as vice-chairmen alongside Shettima and Yilwatda.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari will serve as director-general, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu will serve as deputy directors-general.
Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole will oversee mobilisation, while Femi Gbajabiamila will handle administration. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as council secretary.
This arrangement places political mobilisation, legislative coordination and campaign administration in the hands of senior party figures and government officials.
The structure also reflects the importance of governors and federal lawmakers in Nigeria’s electoral politics. Governors can provide state-level political networks, while legislators can support constituency mobilisation and coordination with party structures.
Nevertheless, the presence of prominent names does not automatically translate into effective grassroots organisation. The council’s performance will depend on how its members coordinate their responsibilities and engage voters across the country.
Why Wike’s Appointment Matters
Wike’s inclusion is among the most politically notable aspects of the revised list because it underscores his continuing position within the Tinubu administration despite his PDP membership.
His appointment to coordinate Rivers State and the FCT places him in a strategic role in two politically important territories. Rivers remains central to calculations in the South-South, while the FCT serves as the seat of the federal government and an important campaign arena.
Wike’s political relationships and experience in Rivers State could make his role particularly relevant to the APC’s organisational plans. However, the extent to which he will participate in campaign activities, and how the PDP will respond to his position, remain issues to watch.
His appointment also raises a broader question about the relationship between party loyalty and political alliances in Nigeria. Politicians can maintain formal membership of one party while cooperating with officeholders from another, but such arrangements can create tensions over accountability, party discipline and electoral commitments. The revised council has brought that question into sharper focus ahead of 2027.
Adeleke and Soludo Add Another Dimension
Adeleke’s appointment as Osun coordinator is noteworthy because Osun has its own competitive political environment, where party organisation and local alliances will influence the presidential campaign.
His inclusion raises questions about whether the appointment reflects a formal political understanding, a broader consultation process or another arrangement. The published list, by itself, does not explain the terms of his involvement.
Soludo’s appointment as Anambra coordinator presents a similar situation in the South-East, where the APC operates alongside established regional political interests and competing parties.
By including a governor from APGA, the ruling party appears to be extending its campaign structure beyond its traditional party boundaries. Whether that arrangement produces active campaign cooperation will become clearer as the election approaches.
The key issue is not simply who appears on the list, but what responsibilities each appointee accepts and how those responsibilities translate into political activity.
Six Geopolitical Zones, One Presidential Objective
The APC has also assigned coordinators and co-coordinators to the six geopolitical zones, giving the campaign a nationwide administrative framework. Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu and Victor Giadom will coordinate the South-South, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Tjeoma Arodiogbu will oversee the South-East.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Oladiran Iyantan will coordinate the South-West. Muazu Bawa Rijau and Niger State Governor Umar Bago will oversee the North-Central. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Garba Datti Muhammad will coordinate the North-West, while former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Idris Suhaibu will oversee the North-East.
This zonal arrangement gives the campaign a structure for coordinating political activities across Nigeria’s six regions.
However, geographical coverage is only one part of campaign planning. The council must also address local political differences, voter concerns and the challenge of maintaining consistent messaging across states with different interests.
The effectiveness of the zonal teams will therefore depend on coordination between national leaders, state-level political figures and grassroots organisers.
Fundraising, Media and Stakeholder Mobilisation
Beyond political coordination, the revised list assigns responsibilities for fundraising, communications, logistics and stakeholder engagement.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will serve as director of finance, while Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Zacch Adedeji will coordinate fundraising.
Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje will direct stakeholder mobilisation, while former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola will serve as South-West zonal coordinator for stakeholder mobilisation.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, House of Representatives member Abdulmumin Jibrin, Wike’s media aide Lere Olayinka and Segun Sowunmi will serve on the media communications team.
Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo will oversee sports sector mobilisation as deputy director, while businessman Ayiri Emami will serve as director of special duties.
These appointments show that the APC intends to organise its campaign across several operational areas, including media relations, fundraising, logistics and engagement with different interest groups.
The inclusion of former governors, ministers, lawmakers and figures from sports and business also indicates the range of networks the campaign intends to bring into its operations.
However, the campaign’s communication strategy will need to address the issues that matter to voters, including the cost of living, employment, insecurity, public services and economic opportunity. The council’s ability to connect its organisational structure with these concerns will be an important measure of its performance.
What the Revised Council Means for 2027
The APC’s revised campaign council offers an early indication of how the ruling party intends to organise its presidential campaign. Its leadership combines senior party officials, elected officeholders, ministers and politicians whose formal affiliations extend beyond the APC.
The inclusion of Wike, Adeleke and Soludo is particularly significant because it raises questions about cross-party cooperation, political alliances and the boundaries of party loyalty.
Yet the list should not be treated as proof of a political realignment involving every named figure. Formal party membership, participation in a campaign council and an explicit commitment to support a presidential candidate are separate matters.
As the 2027 election approaches, attention will shift from appointments to implementation. Observers will look for evidence of active participation, coordination among the zonal teams, grassroots mobilisation and clear campaign positions on national issues.
Ultimately, the revised council provides the APC with a broad organisational framework. Whether that framework delivers effective campaign coordination will depend on the roles its members actually perform and the party’s ability to turn its structure into meaningful engagement with Nigerian voters.
