President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election, urging party leaders and members to work together to secure victory.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday at the inauguration ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, where he called for unity, discipline and commitment among members of the council.
The President thanked party members for their support during the previous election but warned that their assignment would not be complete until they secured victory in the next poll.
“As I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and spirit full of resolve, it is my honour to inaugurate the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 General Election. 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,” he said.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians that his administration would continue its work while the campaign council mobilised support for his re-election.
He acknowledged advice from the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who urged him not to allow campaign activities to distract him from governance.
The President said he would still make time to communicate directly with Nigerians while party leaders handled mobilisation across states and local government areas.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians even as you lead the campaign in 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,” Tinubu said.
He urged campaign council members to engage Nigerians responsibly and explain the administration’s policies and programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shettima Defends Tinubu, Criticises Opposition Figures
Vice-President Kashim Shettima praised Tinubu’s political record and described him as a leader committed to strengthening democracy in Nigeria.
Shettima recalled Tinubu’s support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition in 2007, when Atiku contested under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria.
He also defended the dignity of the presidency, saying Nigerians should respect the office regardless of their political differences.
“You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Shettima said.
The Vice-President also criticised presidential candidate Peter Obi over what he described as the use of misleading statistics and comparisons between Nigeria and other countries without sufficient context.
APC Chairman Promises Nationwide Mobilisation
The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the inauguration demonstrated the party’s commitment to its political objectives ahead of the 2027 election.
He urged council members to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements clearly while explaining how its reforms could improve the lives of Nigerians.
Yilwatda said the campaign would extend from wards to local government areas and states, with the aim of securing widespread voter support for Tinubu.
He also called for a peaceful election based on ideas, records and policies.
The party chairman cited the presence of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike at the event as evidence of support for Tinubu beyond the APC.
Uzodimma Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Uzodimma, who also serves as secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, assured Tinubu that the governors and other party leaders would work to communicate the administration’s policies to Nigerians.
He said the campaign would focus on issues and argued that Tinubu had shown the political will to address longstanding economic challenges.
The governor cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange system as major decisions taken by the administration.
According to him, previous governments had recognised the problems associated with the arrangements but had not taken the same steps to address them.
“The first thing we are proud of is the courage you brought to the problems you inherited when you took office. The country was spending more money on petrol subsidies than on many of its most important public services combined. And a system of multiple exchange rates rewarded a few at everyone else’s expense,” Uzodimma said.
He added that the administration’s tax reforms and other economic measures had contributed to economic growth, citing a growth rate of 4.43 per cent compared with 4.23 per cent a year earlier.
Uzodimma acknowledged that the reforms had caused hardship and inconvenience for some Nigerians but maintained that the country was moving in the right direction.
Adeleke, Wike Pledge Support for Tinubu’s Re-election
In their goodwill messages, Adeleke, Soludo and Wike expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Adeleke drew cheers from attendees with his familiar dance steps during the ceremony.
Wike, a former Rivers State governor and a prominent Peoples Democratic Party figure, said he supported Tinubu because of what he described as the President’s willingness to confront longstanding national challenges.
“Previous administrations identified our problems, but did not tackle them. You have not shied away from tackling such problems. You tackled them from Day One,” Wike said.
He also challenged governors to work towards delivering their states for Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Other speakers, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the President’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai, called for support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.
They said another term would enable the President to continue implementing his reform agenda.
The inauguration marks a major step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with the party leadership pledging nationwide mobilisation while the administration continues its governance programme.
