NEWS
2027: APC Governors Seek Tinubu’s Approval to Limit Presidential Campaign Appearances, Take Charge of Nationwide Mobilisation
Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly seeking President Bola Tinubu’s approval for a new strategy that would significantly reduce his appearances during the 2027 presidential campaign, with state governors and other senior party leaders expected to take the lead in nationwide rallies, grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement.
The proposed arrangement, which is expected to be presented to Tinubu at a meeting with the governors this week, is aimed at creating a more controlled campaign structure in which the President would attend only selected events considered politically strategic, while governors deploy their local political networks and structures to strengthen the ruling party’s electoral prospects across the country.
Under the emerging plan, the governors would assume much of the responsibility for public-facing campaign activities, including rallies, political consultations, grassroots engagements and mobilisation across the six geopolitical zones.
The proposal reportedly reflects growing concerns among some party leaders about Tinubu’s political standing in parts of the North, South-South and South-East, as well as the potential risks associated with frequent appearances before large crowds during an intense presidential campaign.
Rather than requiring the President to criss-cross the country for numerous rallies, the governors are said to favour a strategy that would preserve his energy, limit possible controversies and allow the party to deploy his presence where it could generate the greatest political impact.
The proposed campaign formula represents a notable departure from earlier arrangements under which Tinubu was expected to appear at least once in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
That approach appears to have undergone a modification, with the North-Central campaign gathering held in Nasarawa State on Saturday proceeding without the President.
The development has reportedly drawn attention within APC circles, where the event is being viewed as an early indication of how the proposed strategy could operate if the President approves it.
Sources within the party indicate that the governors intend to formally present the arrangement to Tinubu and seek his endorsement for a campaign structure that would substantially reduce his involvement in the day-to-day activities of the presidential campaign.
Under the proposal, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, is expected to play a coordinating role in organising the governors’ nationwide mobilisation efforts.
The existing organisational structure established by the President would, however, remain in place alongside the APC National Working Committee, with the various party organs expected to continue performing their assigned responsibilities.
The proposal is therefore not being presented as an attempt to remove Tinubu from the campaign or diminish his authority over the party’s electoral operations. Instead, it is understood to be an effort to redistribute responsibilities between the President, governors and other senior party officials.
“He may still be brought in on limited occasions when circumstances demand his presence. The principal expectation, however, is that he would remain largely insulated from the day-to-day campaign activities.
“The one event in which his participation is considered most likely is the grand finale of the campaign, at which he would deliver a major address and appear before the party faithful,” a high-profile source familiar with the discussions said.
The grand finale is consequently expected to remain one of the most important events on Tinubu’s proposed campaign calendar, providing him with an opportunity to address party supporters directly and make a major case for a second term in office.
Concerns Over Political Support and Campaign Risks:
The proposal is reportedly gaining momentum amid concerns among some APC governors about what they perceive as Tinubu’s changing political fortunes in certain parts of the country.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the governors believe the President’s political base remains comparatively stronger in the South-West, while the party faces challenges in consolidating support in sections of the North, South-South and South-East.
These concerns are said to have informed the growing preference for a campaign strategy that places greater responsibility on governors, who are expected to use their familiarity with local political dynamics, grassroots networks and regional power structures to mobilise voters.
The governors reportedly believe that repeatedly exposing the President to large campaign crowds may not necessarily produce the desired electoral benefits and could, in some circumstances, create opportunities for the opposition to attack his candidacy.
They are also said to be mindful of controversies that followed some of Tinubu’s public appearances during the 2023 presidential campaign, when verbal slips and other incidents became subjects of opposition criticism and widespread social media commentary.
According to the sources, some party leaders fear that similar incidents during the 2027 campaign could distract attention from the APC’s policy message, provide fresh talking points for political opponents and complicate efforts to present a disciplined and coordinated campaign.
Consequently, the governors are reportedly advocating what a source described as a “controlled deployment” of the President, under which governors, ministers, party leaders and other campaign officials would shoulder much of the responsibility for rallies and grassroots mobilisation.
The strategy would allow the party to maintain an active nationwide campaign while limiting the President’s exposure to the physical demands of extensive travel and the possibility of controversies arising from frequent public appearances.
Governors to Lead Nationwide Mobilisation:
If Tinubu approves the proposal, governors would become the principal public-facing figures in mobilising support across the six geopolitical zones, drawing on their respective state structures, political alliances and grassroots organisations.
Their responsibilities would reportedly include coordinating rallies, strengthening relationships with party stakeholders, engaging community leaders and ensuring that the APC’s campaign message reaches voters at the ward, local government and state levels.
The arrangement would also enable the party’s central campaign machinery and the APC National Working Committee to concentrate on strategic planning, logistics, coordination and other organisational responsibilities.
By placing governors at the forefront, the ruling party would be seeking to combine the influence of its state administrations with the national profile of the President, while ensuring that campaign activities continue even when Tinubu is not physically present.
The governors are also said to believe that their direct involvement would help the party better manage regional political sensitivities and respond more effectively to local electoral concerns.
However, the precise division of responsibilities between the President, the governors and other party leaders is expected to become clearer after the planned meeting with Tinubu.
The outcome of the meeting could determine whether the proposed arrangement becomes the official framework for the APC’s 2027 presidential campaign.
Tinubu’s Role May Be Reserved for Strategic Events:
Despite the proposed reduction in his campaign appearances, Tinubu is still expected to remain the central figure in the APC’s presidential campaign if the arrangement is adopted.
His participation would reportedly be reserved for events where his presence is considered essential, including major political gatherings, strategically important rallies and the campaign’s grand finale.
At the concluding rally, the President would be expected to address party faithful, highlight his administration’s record and make a direct appeal to Nigerians for another term in office.
The governors’ position, according to sources, is that limiting his appearances would not undermine his leadership of the campaign or invalidate the structures he has already approved.
Rather, they reportedly regard the proposal as a political risk-management strategy designed to make more effective use of the President’s presence while allowing governors to maximise the influence of their respective political networks.
Saturday’s North-Central gathering in Nasarawa State has therefore become an important point of reference in discussions about the proposed model, particularly because the event proceeded without Tinubu’s direct participation.
Whether that development signals the beginning of a broader campaign arrangement or was simply a decision specific to the event remains to be established.
For now, attention is focused on the planned meeting between the APC governors and the President, where the proposed strategy is expected to be formally discussed.
If Tinubu endorses the plan, the 2027 presidential campaign could feature a more decentralised mobilisation structure, with governors taking the lead at rallies and grassroots engagements while the President makes carefully selected appearances.
For the governors backing the proposal, the objective is to deploy Tinubu where his presence is expected to deliver maximum political value while reducing the physical demands and potential controversies associated with an extensive nationwide campaign tour.
The final decision, however, rests with the President, whose approval would determine whether the APC adopts the proposed strategy as it prepares for the high-stakes battle for the presidency in 2027.