The All Progressives Congress on Wednesday inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, expressing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s record and reforms while rallying party leaders and politicians from other political parties to secure his re-election.
The inauguration and federation general assembly, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, drew opposition figures who pledged to back his re-election bid.
They include Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Anambra Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Tinubu told the council that he would not allow the campaign to distract him from governing and asked to be excused from touring the nation with the campaign team.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, were among those who attended the event themed ‘Renewed Hope, Cooperative Federalism and Shared Prosperity.’
President Tinubu, who asked to be excused from touring with the campaign team, said, “You have warned me and asked me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance. I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before. The responsibility of this office does not pause.
“The job must go on. However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas, so you will excuse me from going everywhere with you. We have bills to pay. The creditors cannot wait.”
He assured the gathering that state police “will be a reality.” He also told women that the bill on reserved seats for them would come to fruition, saying the number of women in the National Assembly and at sub-national levels would increase.
The president also warned the party against complacency, saying, “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 wards, until you deliver the votes, before we can say thank you, thank you, and I will thank you very much.”
He recalled that critics had predicted the party would implode ahead of its congresses and said it had instead emerged “strong, united and renewed.”
Describing himself as the party’s “errand man,” he promised to abide by his pledges and the manifesto.
He then declared the council inaugurated.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda flaunted Tinubu’s administration’s achievements and asked the council to communicate the importance of the infrastructure the government had built, including “roads, power projects, gas projects, railways, ports, agricultural infrastructure and digital connectivity.”
These investments, he said, were essential to productivity, commerce, employment and national development.
