Three opposition parties have endorsed the involvement of their prominent members in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, following their appointments to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord have expressed support for the roles assigned to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, respectively.

The APC unveiled the expanded campaign council on Tuesday, with the appointments attracting attention because the three politicians belong to opposition parties.

The development followed confirmation by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, that the ruling party had reached out to opposition figures, including Wike, Soludo and Adeleke, to seek their support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

While the PDP said Wike had been authorised to work with Tinubu since the beginning of the current administration, APGA reaffirmed its support for the President’s re-election. An Accord chieftain also welcomed Adeleke’s campaign appointment.

PDP Says Wike Had Party’s Approval

The PDP National Caretaker Committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said Wike’s inclusion in the APC Presidential Campaign Council was expected, given the party’s earlier position on his relationship with the President.

Mohammed explained that the former Rivers State governor had received the PDP’s approval to work with Tinubu during the tenure of former National Chairman Umar Damagum.

“The FCT minister got the blessing of the PDP during the era of its former National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to work with Mr President. His inclusion in the Presidential Campaign Council was therefore expected, but this does not make him a member of the APC National Working Committee,” he said.

Mohammed added that political parties would welcome Wike’s participation in their campaigns, but stressed that the minister was working with Tinubu in support of the administration rather than the APC as a political party.

“Every political party, including the PDP, would like to have Mr Nyesom Wike in their campaign council, but the party had already endorsed his invitation to help the current administration from day one. He is working for President Tinubu and not for APC,” he stated.

Wike remains a prominent PDP member despite his collaboration with the APC-led Federal Government.

APGA Reaffirms Support For Tinubu

APGA has also backed Soludo’s appointment as the Anambra State coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, describing the role as well deserved.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, the party congratulated the governor and reiterated its support for Tinubu’s re-election.

According to APGA, Soludo’s appointment reflects his leadership qualities, commitment to progressive ideals and support for cooperation between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government.

The party recalled that it adopted Tinubu as its consensus presidential candidate during its National Executive Committee meeting and the President’s working visit to Anambra on May 8, 2025.

It maintained that, in line with the decision, it would not field a presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

APGA also said Soludo’s position that “Progressives are working together” reflected the political understanding between the party and the APC-led Federal Government.

The party noted that cooperation between both sides had helped attract federal support for infrastructure and economic development in Anambra State.

However, APGA clarified that its backing for Tinubu would not prevent it from campaigning for its candidates contesting Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats.

“While APGA remains firmly in control of Anambra State, our position remains: In Anambra, it is Tinubu for President, APGA for Senate, House of Representatives, and state House of Assembly,” the statement said.

The party expressed confidence that Soludo would draw on his experience and political influence, particularly in the South-East, to mobilise support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Accord Chieftain Welcomes Adeleke’s Appointment

An Accord chieftain, Bamidele Salam, has described Adeleke’s appointment to coordinate Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Osun State as a welcome development.

Salam represents Ede South, Ede North, Ejigbo and Egbedore Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The appointment comes despite the APC having contested against Adeleke in the Osun governorship election before subsequently seeking his support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

APC Confirms Outreach To Opposition Figures

Yilwatda confirmed on Tuesday that the APC had approached Wike, Soludo, Adeleke and other opposition figures to support Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party chairman spoke while receiving a delegation from the Savannah Centres for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

He said the APC was seeking support beyond its membership, citing the national interest and the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

According to Yilwatda, the party approached Adeleke after losing the Osun governorship election to him and similarly sought Soludo’s support following its defeat in Anambra State.

“In Osun State, we contested the election against the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, of the Accord. Our party lost that election, but we approached the governor. We begged him and asked him to work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. He agreed to work for the President’s re-election,” he said.

On Soludo, Yilwatda said the APC recognised the Anambra governor as an important political stakeholder and appealed to him to support Tinubu.

He also confirmed that the ruling party had approached Wike to work for the President in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The interest goes beyond political parties. This is in the interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that is why we are doing what we are doing,” Yilwatda added.

Wike Defends Rainbow Coalition

Meanwhile, Wike has insisted that the Rainbow Coalition will remain active ahead of the 2027 elections despite reported disagreements between him and some APC governors.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, the FCT minister dismissed suggestions that the coalition was creating tension within the ruling party or could trigger defections.

The Rainbow Coalition brings together APC members and supporters of Tinubu from other political parties to promote the President’s re-election.

Wike has been coordinating the group’s activities in Rivers State and the FCT. He has maintained that supporting Tinubu does not necessarily mean backing every APC candidate in other elections.

The position has reportedly put him at odds with some APC governors, including Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum.

Uzodimma has maintained that APC governors would not support any alliance capable of weakening the party or undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting that they would campaign for APC candidates at all levels.

Wike recently accused Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of contributing to some of the political challenges he faces. He linked the disagreements to the growing influence of the Rainbow Coalition and its support for politicians challenging APC candidates in governorship and senatorial elections.

However, the FCT minister insisted that the coalition was not a new political arrangement and should not be viewed as a threat.

“If you have any problem against me, come out and face Wike. Don’t go under the Rainbow Coalition. For Rainbow Coalition, it has come. It will stay. There is nothing anybody can do about it,” he said.

Wike explained that the coalition was designed to unite APC members and other supporters of Tinubu around a shared political objective, regardless of their party affiliations.

“If you see that word, PBAT/APC, it means those who are supporting the President who are not members of the party, together with the party, are working together to achieve that purpose.

“The major thing is Mr President. Whatever we are going to do, whoever has any idea or anything to contribute is to the success of Mr President. That is the whole thing,” he stated.

Using the FCT as an example, Wike said coalition members could support Tinubu in the presidential election while backing APC candidates in National Assembly contests.

He questioned why the arrangement had generated controversy, arguing that cross-party political cooperation was not new in Nigeria but had become more prominent with the approach of the 2027 general election.

“When you say a new thing that never happened, I don’t think so,” he added.

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Osita Okechukwu, has acknowledged that although President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have recorded some gains at the macroeconomic level, they have done little to alleviate the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okechukwu said many Nigerians were still grappling with rising prices, declining purchasing power and unemployment, while small and medium-sized enterprises continued to struggle with difficult operating conditions.

He made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday.

The APC founding member explained that while some economic indicators might suggest progress, the reality for citizens struggling to afford basic necessities remained challenging.

He also criticised the effects of the naira’s devaluation on businesses, noting that many small and medium-sized enterprises were finding it increasingly difficult to import machinery and other essential equipment.

According to him, rising energy costs have further compounded the difficulties facing businesses already burdened by high operating expenses.

“The economic reforms have done well at the macroeconomic level, but microeconomic indicators are very poor,” Okechukwu said.

He argued that the government’s reform programme had yet to provide the expected relief for Nigerians battling the rising cost of living and limited employment opportunities.

“When we talk about the purchasing power of the citizenry, the high cost of living and joblessness, the president’s economic reform programme has not helped,” he stated.

Okechukwu explained that the reforms were intended, among other objectives, to stimulate private-sector growth and encourage businesses to create more jobs. However, he maintained that several obstacles were preventing businesses from achieving that potential.

He identified the floating of the naira and increasing energy costs as major challenges confronting local industries, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that depend on imported machinery.

“It didn’t help because the assumption in the neoliberal doctrine is that it will propel the private sector. However, there are indicators inhibiting that growth. Small-scale and medium-scale industries are performing poorly,” he said.

“When you float the naira, it becomes difficult for them to import machinery, and rising energy costs make it even more difficult. These are tangential to the reform programme,” Okechukwu added.

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate members of his 2027 presidential campaign council on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) steps up preparations for the forthcoming general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The announcement followed the party’s release of a revised campaign council list on Monday night, featuring prominent political figures, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; and former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola.

Tinubu will serve as chairman of the council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, occupying the positions of first and second vice chairmen, respectively.

Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was appointed Director-General of the campaign council, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.

In his statement on Tuesday evening, Morka said the inauguration would take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He added that attendance would be restricted to the leadership of the council’s various directorates.

The updated list, obtained by journalists on Tuesday, also named Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq among the council’s vice chairmen.

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu were appointed deputy directors-general. Senator Adams Oshiomhole was named Deputy Director-General in charge of mobilisation.

President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will oversee administration, while Ibrahim Masari will be responsible for logistics and operations.

Former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Masari was appointed Deputy Director-General for Parliament Mobilisation. Meanwhile, Works Minister David Umahi will coordinate infrastructure mobilisation and sensitisation.

James Faleke, who represents Agege Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was assigned responsibility for election planning, coordination and monitoring.

The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, were named assistant secretaries.

The campaign structure also includes zonal coordinators and co-coordinators representing the country’s six geopolitical zones.

At the state level, several governors and prominent political figures were appointed campaign coordinators. They include Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Abba Yusuf of Kano, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Ademola Adeleke of Osun.

Wike was assigned to coordinate campaign activities in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, while Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal will lead the campaign effort in his state.

The council also features several former governors, party leaders and senior government officials as advisers.

Those listed include former APC national chairmen Adebisi Akande and Abdullahi Adamu; former Ogun State governors Ibikunle Amosun and Segun Osoba; former Osun State Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore; former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume; and former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.

Within the Directorate of Election Planning, Coordination, Monitoring and Mobilisation, established ahead of the 2027 general elections, Faleke will serve as Deputy Director-General. Stella Okotete and Abdullahi Garba Ramat were named Secretary I and Secretary II, respectively.

Aminu Masari will head the Directorate of General Logistics and Operations as Deputy Director-General, with Adeniyi Tinubu and Yakub Bashir Bello serving as deputies. Professor Kabiru Isa was appointed secretary of the directorate.

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu will lead the Women Mobilisation Directorate as the APC prepares its campaign machinery for the 2027 presidential election.