Abuja — August 24, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly unveiled All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has run into a wave of criticism just two days after its release, with opposition parties, a senior APC chieftain, and political observers raising questions about who was included, who was left out, and what the composition says about the party’s readiness for the January 2027 election.
The 108-member council was announced on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in a State House statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. President Tinubu will chair the council himself, with Vice President Kashim Shettima serving as first vice chairman and APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as second vice chairman.
Former Zamfara State governor and sitting senator, Abdulaziz Yari, was named Director-General of the campaign, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was appointed Secretary. APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru and presidential aide Hadiza Bala-Usman were named deputy and assistant secretaries, respectively. Senator Adams Oshiomhole was handed the mobilisation docket, and James Faleke — who played a key coordinating role in the 2022/2023 campaign — returned as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring. Dele Alake leads a five-person spokesperson team, and former footballer Joseph Yobo was among the notable non-political names included.
In a message to the council, Tinubu struck a confident tone: “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.” He urged directorate leaders to draw in party members not formally listed and charged the council to “soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”
Despite its size, the list left out several senior figures from Tinubu’s own government. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Benue State governor, George Akume, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo — both prominent voices in the 2023 campaign — are conspicuously missing from the main council, according to reporting that surfaced roughly a day after the list was published. Several other sitting ministers were also left off, prompting speculation within APC circles about internal recalibration ahead of the campaign proper.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) was among the sharpest critics, describing the council as a “rehabilitation centre” for figures tied to unresolved corruption allegations. In a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party singled out the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu — suspended by Tinubu in January 2024 over an attempted ₦585 million transfer into a private account — and former NSITF chairman Ngozi Olejeme, who has faced prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The ADC demanded the government clarify whether the underlying corruption cases had been resolved or whether the appointments effectively amounted to a pardon.
The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) was similarly dismissive, with National Publicity Secretary Abubakar Yusuf describing the council as an assembly of “discredited yes men” lacking the public goodwill needed to run a winning campaign, and pointing to the APC’s recent setback in the Osun governorship election as a warning sign.
Criticism was not confined to opposition ranks. APC chieftain Babafemi Ojudu, in a statement shared on his Facebook page, described the council as a mixture of “saints and former sinners,” questioning the political judgment behind some of the selections even while acknowledging the credibility of others on the list.
A report circulating under an “exclusive” byline claims Tinubu has since recalled the council and ordered a reconstitution of its membership — a development that would follow logically from the scale of the backlash and the notable omissions reported by other outlets. However, this claim could not be independently verified against other Nigerian news sources as of publication; no other major outlet had reported a formal recall or reconstitution order at the time of writing. Readers should treat that specific claim with caution pending an official statement from the Presidency or APC leadership.
If a reconstitution is confirmed, it would mark an unusually fast reversal for a list that was framed by the party as final just days earlier, and would likely reignite questions about the internal negotiations shaping Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the January 2027 poll.
