APC Members Fume As Tinubu Names Opposition Governors To Lead Re-Election Campaigns

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s expanded 2027 re-election campaign council has reportedly triggered discontent within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the appointment of prominent opposition politicians as campaign coordinators in several states.

According to Bush Radio Academy, some APC members have expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to appoint Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike to oversee campaign activities in their respective areas.

Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was appointed to coordinate Tinubu’s campaign in Anambra State, while Adeleke, who won the Osun governorship election on the Accord Party platform, was assigned to oversee the campaign in Osun.

Wike, a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure, was named coordinator for Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.

The appointments, announced as part of the expanded presidential campaign council, have reportedly raised concerns among some ruling-party members who believe long-standing APC loyalists have been overlooked in favour of politicians from rival parties.

Some opposition candidates have also questioned how their political leaders can support Tinubu’s re-election bid without potentially undermining their own chances in elections for the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

Senior APC members who spoke anonymously expressed concern that the arrangement could weaken party unity and reduce enthusiasm among members preparing for the 2027 general elections.

One party source claimed that the appointments had unsettled stakeholders in Osun, Rivers and Anambra, where some APC loyalists reportedly expected to play leading roles in the President’s campaign.

The source specifically alleged that former Osun State Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, was unhappy with Adeleke’s appointment as the presidential campaign coordinator in the state.

The source argued that Oyetola, as a prominent APC figure in Osun, would ordinarily have been expected to lead the party’s campaign efforts there.

Similar concerns were reportedly raised in Rivers State, where Wike was appointed instead of the sitting governor, and in Anambra, where some APC leaders were said to be unhappy that Soludo had been given the coordinating role.

According to the source, the appointments have created dissatisfaction among party members who believe their loyalty and contributions to the APC have not been adequately recognised.

The source warned that the development could weaken internal cohesion, with some members reportedly questioning whether they would receive adequate support and recognition under the current arrangement.

Another APC source cautioned that the disagreement could affect grassroots mobilisation if disappointed party members became reluctant to participate actively in the campaign.

The source argued that APC loyalists who had hoped to secure positions on the campaign council might feel sidelined by the decision to assign key responsibilities to politicians who do not belong to the ruling party.

The source urged Tinubu and other party leaders to address the concerns and reconcile competing interests before the campaign gathers momentum.

The controversy highlights the political balancing act facing the APC as it seeks to build broad support for Tinubu’s re-election while managing the expectations of party loyalists and maintaining unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.