President Bola Tinubu mistakenly referred to himself as a governor during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council for the 2027 election, an event held on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu, who is seeking a second term in office, made the remark while addressing party leaders and members of the newly inaugurated campaign council. The president appeared to mix up his official title, saying, "Distinguished leaders of our party, all the party members, presidential campaign council, I've seen my friend here that I must thank. And next will be the recognition of the director general of the presidential campaign council that we brought Governor Bola Tinubu back for a second time."
Gaffe at Campaign Council Inauguration
According to a report by The Punch, the president referred to himself as a governor rather than a president while making the case for his re-election bid. The slip occurred as he acknowledged the structure of the campaign council, which includes a director-general and other key officials.
The campaign council is chaired by Tinubu himself, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima serving as vice-chairman. Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, was named director-general of the council, a role that will coordinate the party's campaign activities leading up to the 2027 polls.
Cross-Party Alliances in APC Campaign Council
The newly inaugurated council brings together a broad range of political figures, including APC national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila. These appointments reflect the party's effort to consolidate its leadership ahead of the election.
Notably, the campaign structure also includes politicians from outside the ruling party. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is part of the council, as is Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who belongs to the Accord Party. Their inclusion points to the cross-party alliances Tinubu is building ahead of the 2027 polls, a strategy that may reshape the political landscape.
2027 Election Timeline and Expectations
Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election on the APC platform, defeating PDP's Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party's Peter Obi. He is expected to face both figures again in 2027, setting the stage for a highly contested election.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027. These dates provide a clear timeline for the campaign activities that will unfold over the coming months.
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Tinubu told council members he could not join them at every campaign stop, pointing to financial obligations and the need to attract investors. The President assured Nigerians he would still find time to speak directly to them, even as the council led outreach across states and local governments.
