Tinubu Inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council Ahead of 2027 Election
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), calling on party leaders and members to demonstrate unity, discipline and commitment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The inauguration took place on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, where the President urged council members to renew the party’s engagement with Nigerians while ensuring that governance responsibilities remained a priority.
Tinubu expressed confidence in the council’s ability to work towards the party’s electoral objectives, stressing that members must deliver results at the ward, local government and state levels.
“I thank all of you for the last election, but no one gets credit for an incomplete assignment until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver the votes,” the President said.
He acknowledged advice from Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who urged him to ensure that the demands of the campaign did not distract him from governing the country.
Tinubu described the advice as timely, adding that while the campaign council would intensify political mobilisation, his administration would continue implementing its policies and addressing national priorities.
He also said he would make time to engage directly with Nigerians while campaign activities continued across the states and local government areas.
“We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for the future of our children,” he said.
The President urged campaign council members to conduct their activities responsibly, engage Nigerians constructively and communicate the administration’s policies and programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also commended Vice President Kashim Shettima for his speech and described his approach to national development as patriotic. Tinubu further acknowledged the contributions of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, during his tenure as governor, particularly on initiatives aimed at addressing Atlantic Ocean encroachment.
Earlier, Shettima praised Tinubu’s political record and commitment to democratic participation, citing his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition in 2007 under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
The Vice President also criticised Atiku’s comments about the presidency and faulted Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for what he described as the use of misleading statistics and comparisons between Nigeria and other countries without adequate context.
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the inauguration reflected the party’s collective commitment to national development. He urged council members to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements clearly and engage voters across the country.
Yilwatda said the campaign would focus on explaining how the government’s investments and reforms could translate into practical improvements in Nigerians’ daily lives.
He also called for a peaceful, issue-based campaign centred on policies, records and the expectations of the electorate.
In his remarks, Uzodimma, who also serves as secretary of the campaign council, assured Tinubu that governors and other party leaders would work to communicate the administration’s policies to Nigerians.
He defended the President’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates, saying previous administrations had avoided taking such decisions because of their potential political costs.
Uzodimma acknowledged that the reforms had brought hardship and inconvenience to citizens but argued that economic indicators suggested the country was moving in the right direction. He also cited tax reforms and reported economic growth as part of the administration’s record.
During goodwill messages, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Adeleke drew cheers from attendees with his trademark dance moves, while Wike said he supported Tinubu because of what he described as the President’s willingness to confront longstanding national challenges.
Wike also urged governors to work towards securing electoral victories for Tinubu in their respective states.
Other speakers, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Ibrahim Kabiru Masari and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai, called for support for the President’s second-term bid.
Tinubu Inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council Ahead of 2027 Election