President pledges to renew covenant with Nigerians; Atiku, ADC question council’s size, composition and use of Presidential Villa as political tensions build ahead of 2027 elections
By Abdulrahman Aliagan
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election, declaring the ruling party ready to renew its political covenant with Nigerians amid mounting opposition criticism over the council’s composition, economic hardship and the administration’s handling of insecurity.
The inauguration, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on October 14, 2026, brought together APC leaders, government officials, state governors and politicians affiliated with other political parties, underscoring the ruling party’s attempt to build a broad coalition ahead of the presidential election.
Tinubu expressed confidence in the council’s capacity to coordinate the party’s campaign while urging members to maintain unity, discipline and commitment to the task ahead.
The event, however, immediately became a subject of political controversy, with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) questioning the size of the council, the inclusion of opposition-affiliated politicians and the use of the Presidential Villa for a partisan gathering.
While the APC presented the inauguration as a demonstration of political unity and confidence in its record, opposition figures argued that the gathering raised fundamental questions about governance, democratic competition and the administration’s response to the economic and security challenges confronting Nigerians.
Tinubu Defends Reform Agenda, Seeks Second Term
Addressing members of the council, Tinubu expressed gratitude to party leaders and supporters while declaring his readiness to seek another mandate in 2027.
The President urged the campaign leadership to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements effectively, insisting that the country needed sustained efforts to address longstanding structural problems.
The inauguration comes as the administration continues to defend its economic reform programme, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system, against criticism over the cost of living and the pressure on household incomes.
The APC leadership maintained that the reforms were necessary to reposition the economy, arguing that the country was moving in the right direction despite the difficulties experienced by citizens.
The party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, urged the council to communicate the administration’s record with precision and demonstrate how its investments and reforms could translate into practical improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.
He said the campaign should be taken to wards, local governments and states, with the objective of mobilising voters for Tinubu’s re-election.
Yilwatda acknowledged that the reforms had brought hardship and inconvenience but maintained that the administration had made progress in addressing the country’s economic problems.
He also called for an election centred on ideas, records and policies, conducted peacefully and with respect for the electorate.
The President’s challenge will be to convince voters that the benefits of the reforms are sufficiently visible in employment opportunities, purchasing power, public services, infrastructure and improved living conditions.
For the opposition, the economic consequences of the administration’s policies are likely to remain a central point of criticism as political parties prepare their arguments for the next election.
Shettima Takes On Atiku, Obi
Vice-President Kashim Shettima used the occasion to criticise leading opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Shettima defended Tinubu’s political standing, arguing that the office of the President should be treated with respect regardless of political disagreements.
He also criticised Obi’s use of statistics and comparisons with other countries in discussing Nigeria’s economic performance, arguing that such comparisons required appropriate context.
The exchanges highlighted the increasingly confrontational tone of political discourse ahead of the 2027 election, with the ruling party seeking to defend its record while opposition figures question the administration’s performance.
The disagreements also reflect a broader contest over the interpretation of Nigeria’s economic indicators, the consequences of policy decisions and the extent to which government reforms have improved the circumstances of ordinary citizens.
The campaign is therefore likely to involve competing claims over economic performance, security, public accountability and the effectiveness of government spending.
Atiku: Expanded Council Cannot Erase Hardship
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar launched a strong criticism of the expanded campaign council, describing it as a “crowded confession of fear”.
In a statement issued through Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku accused Tinubu of attempting to surround himself with political allies rather than directly address the concerns of Nigerians.
He argued that the presence of prominent politicians in the council would not resolve the economic hardship and insecurity confronting the country.
Atiku also questioned the decision to hold the inauguration at the Presidential Villa, arguing that the seat of government should not be used as a venue for partisan political activities.
According to him, the Presidential Villa belongs to the Nigerian people and should not be treated as an extension of the ruling party.
He further criticised the growing size of the council, arguing that the addition of more political figures would not, by itself, answer questions about the administration’s record.
The former vice-president pointed to poverty and insecurity as issues the campaign should address, insisting that Nigerians were more concerned about their living conditions and the safety of their communities than the number of politicians associated with the President’s re-election effort.
Atiku’s criticism places economic welfare and the use of public institutions at the centre of the opposition’s challenge to the APC’s campaign narrative.
However, the APC has maintained that the expanded council reflects its political reach and its determination to build a broad coalition for the election.
ADC Alleges Threat to Multiparty Democracy
The African Democratic Congress also condemned the composition of the expanded council, accusing the APC of undermining multiparty democracy by incorporating politicians affiliated with other parties into Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
In a statement attributed to Kola Ologbondiyan, director of media and publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the party alleged that the ruling party was using political pressure and state power to weaken opposition forces.
The ADC described the development as an attempt to concentrate political influence around the ruling party, warning that the inclusion of opposition-affiliated governors and other political figures raised concerns about the future of competitive party politics.
The party also accused the administration of paying insufficient attention to the economic hardship, hunger and insecurity experienced by Nigerians.
These assertions represent the ADC’s political position and have not, by themselves, established that the politicians named in the council were compelled to participate.
The controversy nevertheless raises questions about the relationship between individual political alliances, party membership and the independence of opposition institutions.
The inclusion of politicians from different political backgrounds could be interpreted by the APC as evidence of wider support for Tinubu. Critics, however, see it as a development requiring closer scrutiny, particularly where the individuals involved continue to hold positions within other political parties.
The distinction is important in assessing whether the council represents a voluntary coalition of political interests or a development that could weaken the ability of opposition parties to organise effectively.
Opposition Parties Divided Over Their Members’ Inclusion
The composition of the campaign council has also exposed differing positions among opposition parties.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Accord Party expressed support for the inclusion of their respective political figures in the council.
The politicians involved include Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Their inclusion in the APC campaign structure, despite their affiliations with other parties, has generated debate about the relationship between party loyalty, personal political alliances and the pursuit of broader electoral coalitions.
Wike has defended the inclusion of opposition-affiliated politicians, describing it as an indication that Tinubu’s re-election effort could attract support beyond the APC.
The positions of the three parties contrast with the criticism from Atiku and the ADC, demonstrating that the response to the expanded council has not been uniform across the opposition.
The development also presents a political dilemma for opposition parties: how to maintain organisational cohesion and a distinct political identity when prominent members or affiliated officeholders publicly support a presidential candidate from another party.
Whether the arrangement translates into a durable political coalition or remains an alliance of individual interests will become clearer as the campaign progresses.
The Bigger Question: Governance or Campaign Politics?
Beyond the immediate controversy, the inauguration raises a broader question about how the administration intends to balance the demands of campaigning with the responsibilities of governance.
The council is expected to coordinate political mobilisation and communicate the APC’s record ahead of the 2027 election.
Yet, the issues likely to shape public debate extend beyond party organisation.
Economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, the cost of essential goods and access to public services remain important considerations in evaluating the administration’s performance.
For the APC, the challenge is to demonstrate how its reforms have addressed longstanding structural problems and how their benefits can be measured in the lives of citizens.
For opposition parties, the challenge is to present credible alternatives and explain how their proposed policies would respond to the same concerns.
The debate over the use of the Presidential Villa also raises an institutional question about the distinction between the President’s official responsibilities and his activities as a party candidate.
Atiku has criticised the venue as inappropriate for a partisan event, arguing that public facilities should not be used in ways that blur the line between government and party interests.
The controversy places a premium on transparency and accountability in the management of public institutions, especially during an election cycle.
A Campaign Council Facing an Early Test
The inauguration marks a significant step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, but the political reactions suggest that the council will face scrutiny from the outset.
Its expanded membership may provide access to a wider range of political networks and constituencies. At the same time, the controversy surrounding its composition demonstrates that political alliances can generate questions about party identity, democratic competition and the credibility of campaign messaging.
The ruling party will need to show that its campaign is not defined solely by the number of prominent names on its list but by the substance of its policies and its account of governance.
Opposition parties, in turn, will need to move beyond criticism of the council’s composition and present clear alternatives on the economy, security, public services and democratic accountability.
Ultimately, the 2027 election will provide an opportunity for voters to assess the competing claims of the parties against their records, proposals and capacity to address Nigeria’s challenges.
For now, Tinubu’s campaign council has opened a new phase in the political contest, with the ruling party emphasising unity and continuity while opposition figures question whether the administration’s political alliances can answer the concerns of Nigerians.
As preparations gather momentum, the central issue will be whether the emerging campaign debate produces substantive engagement with the country’s problems or becomes dominated by political personalities, rival alliances and competing claims to public support.
