As would be expected of a ruling party with tentacles in virtually every nook and cranny of the country, the All Progressives Congress (APC), days ago, unveiled an all-encompassing Presidential Campaign Council list that was capable of intimidating the opposition by its sheer size, reach and political weight.
It was, in many respects, a list of who-is-who in the current power calculus across the country—apparently designed to send cold jitters down the spines of an opposition that, even before the list was released, appeared to be struggling with its own internal contradictions.
But days after the list entered the public domain, the outcry from party stalwarts, political observers, opposition figures and members of the general public has remained unabated. The concerns have evidently become strong enough to compel the Presidency to recall the list for review.
There is little doubt that the list requires some tweaking if the APC and, indeed, the Presidency are to avoid needless embarrassment and, more importantly, assemble a more potent and effective team capable of delivering victory in 2027.
One of the most obvious shortcomings of the list is the conspicuous absence of some frontline players and influential stakeholders whose contributions to the party’s success in 2023 were remarkable and whose relevance to the battle ahead remains undiminished.
Observers have, for instance, continued to wonder why the name of Festus Keyamo, the current Minister of Aviation, was omitted from the list. Keyamo served as Spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs during the 2023 Presidential campaign and played a prominent role in communicating the Tinubu campaign’s message to the electorate.
Analysts argue that Keyamo remains an asset for a task of this magnitude. He had previously played a significant role in the political battles that culminated in the emergence of the late President Muhammadu Buhari and, subsequently, in the hard-fought 2023 Presidential election that produced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Another name that has generated considerable discussion is that of Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Cultural Orientation (NICO).
A committed party man and an outspoken advocate of the Bola Tinubu brand, APC policies and government programmes, Ajiboye has consistently used television and other media platforms to defend the administration and explain its policies to the public.
A formidable debater and tireless expositor of government policies, Otunba Ajiboye has earned a reputation as a fearless communicator who is never reluctant to take the battle to the opposition media space. He has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to engage critics of the administration on their own turf and defend the government’s position with conviction and considerable ease.
His omission, therefore, has left many wondering whether such a tested communicator should not have a place in a campaign structure whose success will depend heavily on effective public communication.
Also attracting attention is the omission of Simon Lalong, former Governor of Plateau State, who served as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in 2023 and was widely regarded as having discharged the responsibility creditably.
For many party stakeholders, leaving out someone with direct experience of managing a Presidential campaign of that scale raises legitimate questions about the criteria used in constituting the 2027 council.
The absence of such political heavyweights as Dikko Radda, Governor of Katsina State, Yahaya Bello, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, all former governors, has also been identified by observers as another significant gap in the list. Whatever the individual circumstances of these politicians, their political networks, experience and influence are difficult to overlook in a national campaign of this magnitude.
But while some observers have focused on the names that are conspicuously absent, others have raised questions about the inclusion and deployment of some of those whose names made the list.
There has, for instance, been criticism over the inclusion of Betta Edu, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, amid the controversies surrounding her tenure and the allegations that arose from the humanitarian ministry saga.
Similar concerns have been raised about the inclusion of other individuals who have faced public controversy over allegations of financial impropriety. For a campaign seeking to project a message of competence, accountability and renewal, party strategists may need to consider carefully whether such controversial inclusions strengthen or weaken the overall narrative.
Another issue that has attracted considerable attention is the multiple deployment of Mr Dele Alake, whose name appears in several positions, including Director, Policy and Manifesto Development; Coordinating Director, Media/Strategic Communication II; Presidential Spokesperson I; and Director, Extractive Industry Sector Mobilisation I.
While there is no doubt about Alake’s experience and competence, the concentration of so many responsibilities in one individual has understandably generated questions among party stakeholders, particularly when several other competent and influential party members could also have been given meaningful responsibilities.
The central issue, therefore, is not necessarily the size of the list. A large campaign council is understandable for a party seeking to prosecute a nationwide Presidential campaign. The more important question is whether the structure is strategically balanced, sufficiently inclusive and populated by individuals whose strengths can be deployed effectively.
The 2027 Presidential election will require more than numbers. It will require political experience, grassroots mobilisation, effective communication, intellectual firepower, media engagement, youth mobilisation, women mobilisation and the ability to defend the administration’s record convincingly before a sceptical electorate.
The APC, therefore, has an opportunity to turn the controversy surrounding the initial list into an advantage.
The recall of the list by the Presidency is a welcome opportunity to fine-tune the structure, correct obvious omissions, eliminate unnecessary overlaps and ensure that those who have demonstrated capacity, loyalty and effectiveness are appropriately deployed.
Ultimately, the objective should not simply be to produce the longest possible campaign council. It should be to assemble the most effective one.
Nominating individuals with criminal records, humiliated out of power as a minister is a bit irresponsible, making the country’s chief tax law Officer the chairman of fund raise committee is just not right, the list appears disrespectful to the Nigerian people, allowing one person to appear about six times in the list is grossly insulting to those who braved post Election debate.
The APC level of arrogance needs checked,the part needs to be cautious, most of the men included in the communication committee are not particularly good speakers, the credential required of apc comapign need is a fierce speaker, that is sufficient in Festus Kwyamo and Biodun Ajiboye.
The Presidency has taken the first step by recalling the list released days ago. Party stalwarts, stakeholders and, indeed, the wider public will now wait with keen interest to see whether the revised list will reflect a more inclusive, balanced and potent campaign structure capable of delivering the APC’s desired victory in 2027.
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