Tinubu Moves to Streamline 2027 Campaign Structure as Wike Set to Coordinate Rivers, FCT
In an effort to assign defined roles and prevent internal friction ahead of the 2027 presidential election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to appoint Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike as the coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign structure across Rivers State and the FCT.
The emerging arrangement allows the presidential campaign to leverage Wike’s established political networks while enabling the former Rivers State Governor to maintain his membership in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike has repeatedly asserted that he does not need formal membership in the ruling party or a seat in the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to mobilize support for Tinubu’s re-election bid. The proposed framework assigns him specific responsibility for two critical territories where he claims substantial political influence, circumventing the need to place him within the traditional APC hierarchy.
The strategic move comes amid growing tensions between Wike and several APC governors regarding the organization of presidential campaign operations. Wike recently accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of opposing his efforts, following the Progressive Governors Forum’s unanimous resolution to reject Wike’s proposed “Rainbow Coalition”—a cross-party alliance backing Tinubu. President Tinubu’s streamlined structure is intended to nip these internal conflicts in the bud and establish clear operational boundaries for key actors.
Decentralized Campaign Command
Rather than implementing a rigid hierarchical structure, the campaign will feature distinct spheres of responsibility to accommodate influential political figures without friction:
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Director General: Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari will oversee operations as Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council.
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National Assembly Leadership: Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau will operate within independent channels rather than reporting directly to the campaign DG.
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Territorial Coordination: Nyesom Wike will maintain independent oversight of mobilization efforts in Rivers State and the FCT.
Keyamo Tipped for Campaign Communications
Meanwhile, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo is expected to take on a prominent spokesperson role within the emerging campaign machinery.
Keyamo brings extensive political communications experience to the role, having served as a spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs during Tinubu’s successful 2023 presidential campaign, as well as a senior communications official during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.
