President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, charging party leaders to mobilise support nationwide while assuring Nigerians that governance would remain his administration’s priority.
The inauguration took place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, bringing together party leaders, state governors, lawmakers and grassroots political representatives.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu said his responsibilities as president would continue uninterrupted despite the commencement of political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The responsibility of this office does not pause,” the president declared
He explained that while the campaign council would coordinate political mobilisation across the states and local government areas, he would remain focused on governance and continue to engage Nigerians directly on his administration’s achievements and development agenda.
“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,” he said.
The president stressed that the government had financial obligations to meet and needed to sustain efforts to attract investors to support economic growth and long-term national development.
“The job must go on. We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.
Declaring the APC ready for the 2027 elections, the president described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to Nigerians and the responsibilities entrusted to the party as the country’s governing party.
“The APC is ready. We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council.
“We have gathered to renew a covenant, a covenant with the Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party.
“We promise we will not let them down,” he said.
Tinubu urged members of the council to take the party’s vision, achievements and development agenda to Nigerians across the country, emphasising the importance of reaching communities and wards as part of its mobilisation efforts.
“Let the word go out from this hall to every corner of our nation. The APC is ready,” he declared.
The president also encouraged party members to remain determined in their efforts towards nation-building, drawing from his experience as governor of Lagos State, where his administration introduced measures to address the threat of flooding from the Atlantic Ocean.“There is no limit to daring. You must dare, you must be determined,” he said.
The inauguration was attended by members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), including local government chairmen and chapter leaders, underscoring the importance of grassroots structures in the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Under the campaign council’s leadership structure, Tinubu will serve as chairman, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as vice chairmen.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, was appointed Director-General of the council, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, will serve as secretary.
The council is expected to coordinate the APC’s nationwide campaign activities, stakeholder engagement and mobilisation efforts ahead of the elections.
ALGON and other local government representatives are also expected to play significant roles in grassroots mobilisation across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The inauguration formally establishes the party’s campaign leadership structure as it prepares to intensify political engagement and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
