Big tent, one table: inside the APC’s new campaign council
From Wike to Soludo, an unusual coalition sat down at the Villa as President Tinubu asked the party to “renew its covenant” with Nigerians, one polling unit at a time.
The Presidential Villa hosted a working session on Wednesday rather than a ceremony. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council and told its members that the party is ready and united to “renew its covenant” with Nigerians.
He was blunt about what success will require. “No one gets credit for an incomplete assignment until you deliver the next election,” he said, urging members to deliver their own polling units. He cited the Atlantic City project in Lagos as proof that ambitious goals can be met.
“A contest of ideas”
APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda set the tone for the months ahead. “Let the coming election be a contest of ideas, records, and policies,” he said. The council, he explained, will canvass ward by ward, local government by local government and state by state.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum and serves as the council’s Secretary, said the campaign would be issue-based. He credited the President with ending petrol subsidy and multiple exchange rates. Addressing the President, he said: “You were the only one who chose to end them.” He cited economic growth of 4.43 per cent, up from 4.23 per cent.
Across party lines
The council is notable for who else is in it. Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, a member of the PDP, is backing the President. “Previous administrations identified our problems, but did not tackle them,” he said. Wike has been named the Tinubu campaign coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT.
Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Charles Soludo of Anambra pledged their support. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Ibrahim Masari and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai also backed a second term.
The man with the map
Senator Abdulaziz Yari is Director-General of the council. He has been on a consultative tour, meeting the Emirs of Gwandu, Katsina, Daura and Zaria. That is the kind of groundwork that rarely makes headlines but often decides close contests.
For young voters who have only seen campaigns as noise on their timelines, the council’s promise of an issue-led race is worth holding it to. The party has said it will campaign on records. Over the next 13 weeks, voters can judge it on that promise.
Sources
- State House: President Tinubu inaugurates Presidential Campaign Council
- Channels TV: Tinubu inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council, urges members to deliver polling units
- Daily Trust: Wike, Adeleke, Soludo make revised APC Presidential Campaign Council
- Blueprint: APC PCC will carry all stakeholders along, meets Emirs of Gwandu, others
This story was compiled by Ripple Nigeria Staff from the public reports and official statements listed above. Figures described as claims are attributed to the people or organisations that made them.
