As the All Progressives Congress (APC) moves quickly to constitute a 223-member presidential campaign council for the 2027 general elections, several opposition presidential candidates have yet to fix campaign launch dates or announce their council structures. The APC council is headed by former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari.
Atiku's Camp Says Consultations Ongoing
Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, told journalists on Sunday that the former vice-president's campaign council, its leadership, and a formal launch date would be disclosed at the appropriate time. Shaibu said consultations were still under way and that the team preferred to let the process run its course rather than release names or locations before an official decision had been reached.
On campaign funding, Shaibu said Atiku would present his fundraising framework in line with applicable campaign-finance regulations when the time was right, adding that whatever model was adopted would be transparent and accountable. He also said Atiku's immediate focus was on engaging Nigerians directly on policy, including his commitment to a production-linked fuel subsidy designed to support domestic refining rather than the previous import-subsidy model.
NDC and Labour Party Also Undecided
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose presidential candidate is Peter Obi, is similarly still working through its campaign timetable. NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Director said the party would hold an internal meeting next weekend before settling on dates and other details. Director confirmed that figures such as Prof Pat Utomi, Buba Galadima, and Bishop Idahosa were expected to feature in the council, and that the campaign planned to visit all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with some states potentially receiving more than one visit.
The Labour Party's presidential candidate, Dr Chibuzor Okereke, said his party's strategy team would determine the date and venue for the campaign launch, adding that no decision had yet been taken on whether to begin from one of the states or the FCT.
Kwankwaso Challenges APC Council Composition
NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso used a post on his verified X account, @KwanKwasoRM, to question the make-up of the APC campaign council. He said its composition offered Nigerians a clear picture of what the 2027 election was really about, arguing that many of its members had supported or defended the current administration. Kwankwaso specifically appealed to Yari, his former colleague as a northern governor, to reconsider accepting the Director-General role.
He also raised concerns about the inclusion of Nigeria Revenue Service Executive Chairman Dr Zacch Adedeji and Budget Office Director-General Dr Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi in the APC campaign's finance structures, questioning whether senior public officials managing national revenue could simultaneously hold partisan campaign roles without compromising institutional neutrality.
YPP Sets September 9 Launch
Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate Prof Peter Agada is the only opposition aspirant to announce a firm date, naming September 9 as the start of his campaign, beginning in Lagos. He said Ambassador Nana Aisha Mahmoud, currently the YPP Deputy National Chairman, was his proposed campaign council Director-General, pending final clearance, with Prof Osaze as secretary and Evelyn Ohiole as Media Director.
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Abdulaziz Yari, the senator representing Zamfara West and a former governor of the state, pledged to secure President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027 after being named director-general of the APC presidential campaign council. Yari made the commitment on Saturday, August 22, in a statement reacting to his appointment, saying he accepted the role with "deep gratitude" and "full seriousness."
