ABUJA: President Bola Tinubu has met with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as efforts intensify to resolve the controversy surrounding the party’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with members of the Progressives Governors’ Forum at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday as the ruling party continued consultations over the composition of its campaign council.
The meeting came amid growing controversy over the APC 2027 campaign council list released by the party on August 23, 2026.
According to reports, the consultations were aimed at reviewing the list and addressing concerns raised by party stakeholders over its composition.
The APC campaign council list had generated criticism following the inclusion of some party chieftains facing corruption-related allegations. There were also complaints that some important sections of the party were not adequately consulted before the list was released.
The APC governors arrived at the President’s office shortly before 4pm after participating in a separate National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The consultations over the Tinubu 2027 campaign structure began on Wednesday and continued into Thursday as party leaders sought to find a solution to the disagreement.
Sources within the APC told The PUNCH that the meeting, which began around 4pm on Wednesday and continued until about 11pm, was not concluded before further discussions resumed on Thursday.
As of Thursday evening, the exact changes to the APC Presidential Campaign Council list remained unclear.
However, party sources said the list had been reviewed, while another source disclosed that the initial list had been deleted from the APC’s official X account.
According to the source, a fresh list is expected to be released after President Tinubu approves the recommendations arising from the consultations.
The source said the campaign council list had become a major issue during the meeting, adding that the removal of the earlier version from the party’s social media platform indicated that changes were being considered.
Another senior APC chieftain expressed concern that the party was allegedly not sufficiently involved in the preparation of the original campaign council list.
The chieftain said the backlash could have been avoided if wider consultations had been held with party stakeholders before the list was released.
Meanwhile, findings indicate that the APC plans to strengthen its social intervention programmes ahead of the 2027 election as part of efforts to connect with Nigerians and address concerns over economic hardship.
The ruling party is expected to place greater emphasis on programmes designed to reach vulnerable Nigerians as the 2027 presidential election approaches.
The APC had earlier released an expanded list of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
Under the structure, President Bola Tinubu is chairman of the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, are vice chairmen I and II respectively.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was appointed Secretary.
The expanded APC campaign council comprises 223 positions, with directorates covering areas including finance, extractive industries, education, manufacturing and MSMEs, support group coordination, faith-based mobilisation, protocol, labour union relations, grassroots engagement, digital operations, welfare and stakeholders’ mobilisation.
However, the Presidency has maintained that the campaign council structure is not final and could still be adjusted.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the list remained valid because the campaign structure was still being completed.
Dare explained that several subcommittees were yet to be constituted and that additional names could be included when those committees were formed.
He also maintained that the APC had not withdrawn the campaign council list.
According to him, adjustments could be made where necessary, stressing that the list was not permanent.
Dare further clarified that the expected changes should be regarded as “adjustments” rather than a wholesale review of the Tinubu 2027 campaign council.
The latest consultations between Tinubu and APC governors are therefore expected to determine the final shape of the ruling party’s campaign structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
