President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is moving to give Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike a clearly defined role in his 2027 re-election campaign, with the former Rivers State governor expected to coordinate the presidential campaign structure in Rivers State and the FCT, according to sources cited by Arise News.
The proposed arrangement would allow Mr Wike to mobilise support for President Tinubu while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike has repeatedly maintained that his support is for President Tinubu’s re-election and does not amount to support for the APC in other elections.
The reported move comes amid disagreements between Wike and some APC governors over the organisation of support for the President ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike has promoted a cross-party “Rainbow Coalition” aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu, while insisting that the structure is separate from the APC.
The emerging campaign arrangement is also expected to create distinct lines of responsibility among some of the most influential figures in the campaign. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari is expected to remain Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council and oversee its day-to-day operations. However, sources cited by Arise News say Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau are not expected to report directly to Yari.
Instead, the two National Assembly leaders are expected to operate within separate spheres of responsibility while maintaining direct lines to the wider campaign structure. The arrangement is reportedly intended to accommodate the different political blocs and senior figures involved in the President’s re-election campaign.
The development would represent an adjustment to the campaign council announced by the Presidency in August. Under the existing structure, Tinubu is chairman, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda are vice-chairmen, while Yari serves as Director-General and Governor Hope Uzodimma as secretary. Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were also appointed deputy director-generals.
Meanwhile, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo is being tipped for a prominent spokesperson role in the emerging campaign structure. Keyamo previously served as a spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs during Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign and also held a senior communications role during Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign.
The proposed changes are yet to be formally announced by the Presidency or the APC. For now, the reported roles remain part of an emerging campaign arrangement based on information from sources familiar with the planned structure.
