Tinubu names Yari DG of APC 2027 presidential campaign

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, appointing former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was named Secretary of the council.

The appointments were announced in a statement issued by the Presidency on Saturday morning and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu will chair the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima will serve as Vice-Chairman I. APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, was named Vice-Chairman II.

The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, will serve as Deputy Secretary, while Hadiza Bala-Usman was appointed Assistant Secretary.

The President will also be supported by a council of advisers made up of former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande; veteran politician Segun Osoba; former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha; former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed Deputy Directors-General for the South and North zones of the campaign, alongside Senators Opeyemi Bamidele and Jibril Barau.

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, was named Deputy Director-General for Mobilisation, while Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will handle Administration.

James Faleke, who played a key role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring. He will oversee zonal directors across the six geopolitical zones.

The zonal directors are Senator Olushola Adeyeye for the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme for the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife for the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe for the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso for the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi for the North-East.

Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori were named secretaries of the Election Planning Directorate.

Muiz Banire, SAN, will head the Legal Directorate, with Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies.

For media and strategic communication, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was appointed Coordinating Director. He will work with Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu, with Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka serving as coordinating deputy directors.

Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Temitope Ajayi, Aderonke Arabirin and Frederick Nwabufo were named coordinating secretaries.

Segun Dada, who held a similar role in the party’s 2022 campaign, returns as Director of New Media, with Solomon Arowolo as Secretary.

The campaign council also named five spokespersons: Alake, Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.

Tinubu, while inaugurating the structure, urged members of the council to work for an APC victory in the 2027 presidential election and called on directorate heads to bring in other party members not formally listed in the council.

He said the administration had fulfilled its campaign promises and placed the country on the path to economic recovery.

“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,” Tinubu said.

He added: “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.”