President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met behind closed doors with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as efforts intensified to resolve controversies surrounding the party’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council list.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was the latest in a series of consultations involving the President, APC governors and other senior party leaders over the campaign structure released by the ruling party on August 23.
The APC governors arrived at the Villa shortly before 4pm after attending a separate National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The consultations began on Wednesday and reportedly lasted from about 4pm until 11pm but were not concluded. Discussions continued on Thursday following the regular meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee.
The controversy followed the inclusion of some party figures facing corruption allegations and concerns that important sections of the APC were not adequately consulted before the campaign council list was released.
Although the extent of the proposed changes remained unclear as of Thursday night, party sources said the list had been reviewed.
A senior source close to the APC governors said the original list had been deleted from the party’s X account and that an updated version would be published after Tinubu approves the outcome of the consultations.
The source also alleged that the party itself was not sufficiently involved in drawing up the initial list, saying some officials in the Presidency were responsible for its composition.
The APC had initially released a 223-member Presidential Campaign Council, with Tinubu as chairman, Shettima as first vice-chairman and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, as second vice-chairman.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was appointed Secretary.
The expanded structure included directorates responsible for areas such as finance, extractive industries, education, manufacturing and MSMEs, support-group coordination, faith-based mobilisation, labour relations, digital operations, grassroots engagement, stakeholder mobilisation and welfare.
Following the backlash, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, said the list remained valid but could be adjusted.
Dare explained that the campaign structure was still being completed, with several subcommittees yet to be constituted. He said the expected changes should be regarded as “adjustments where necessary” rather than a wholesale review of the campaign council.
He added that the planned subcommittees would allow more APC members and political stakeholders to participate in the campaign structure.
Meanwhile, the APC is also expected to intensify social intervention programmes ahead of the January 2027 elections as part of efforts to connect with Nigerians and respond to concerns over economic hardship.
The move comes as the ruling party prepares for a major nationwide campaign to secure Tinubu’s re-election.