With barely two weeks to the official commencement of presidential campaigns for the 2027 general election, political parties have intensified behind-the-scenes consultations over the composition of their campaign organisations, with former governors emerging as leading contenders to head the campaign structures of the major presidential candidates.

Investigations by The PUNCH revealed that while the ruling All Progressives Congress is weighing the credentials of former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to lead President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign, the African Democratic Congress has settled on former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, as the leading contender to direct former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.

The Labour Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, the Social Democratic Party and the National Democratic Coalition have also stepped up consultations over their campaign structures, with officials of the parties confirming that announcements on their campaign directors-general and campaign councils would be made before August 19, the date fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the commencement of presidential campaigns.

The flurry of consultations reflects the strategic importance political parties attach to the office of campaign Director-General, regarded as one of the most influential positions in any presidential race after the candidate and running mate.

Beyond coordinating campaign logistics, the DG is expected to supervise nationwide mobilisation, harmonise the activities of campaign councils across the six geopolitical zones, manage relationships with political stakeholders, oversee fundraising efforts, coordinate media messaging and ensure that the candidate’s manifesto is effectively communicated to voters.

With President Tinubu seeking a second term and opposition parties attempting to build a formidable coalition capable of ending the APC’s dominance at the centre, political observers say the choice of campaign managers could significantly shape the intensity and direction of the contest.

Already, preparations have gathered momentum following INEC’s release of the timetable for the 2027 general election, which provides for presidential campaigns to begin on August 19.

The timetable has effectively shifted political parties from internal consultations and candidate nominations to full campaign mode, with attention now focused on assembling campaign organisations capable of reaching voters across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Although several parties have already unveiled their presidential candidates, many have continued consultations on campaign structures in a bid to strike political, regional and religious balances that could strengthen their electoral prospects.

For the ADC, which recently emerged as the platform of a broad opposition coalition, attention has centred on former Sokoto State governor and serving Senator, Aminu Tambuwal.

Party sources familiar with the development disclosed that Tambuwal was poised to be named Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar 2027 Presidential Campaign Organisation, barring any last-minute changes arising from consultations among party leaders.

If confirmed, Tambuwal would reprise the role he played during the 2023 presidential election when he served as Director-General of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Atiku eventually lost the election to President Tinubu of the APC after a keenly contested race that also featured Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and NNPP flag bearer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Party insiders believe Tambuwal’s familiarity with Atiku’s political structure, coupled with his long-standing relationship with the former vice-president, makes him one of the strongest candidates for the position.

A highly placed source close to Atiku told The PUNCH that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives had emerged as the leading choice to coordinate the campaign machinery for the ADC presidential candidate.

When asked who was being considered for the position, the source, who requested anonymity because the decision had yet to be formally announced, replied simply: “Tambuwal.”

The source further disclosed that Tambuwal would work closely with Atiku’s running mate, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in developing and executing the party’s nationwide campaign strategy.

According to the source, “Amaechi will work alongside Tambuwal even though the former Rivers governor is the running mate of the ex-vice president.”

The anticipated appointment underscores the central role both men are expected to play in the ADC’s efforts to present a united opposition front against the ruling APC.

While Tambuwal is expected to oversee the campaign structure and political coordination, Amaechi is projected to spearhead nationwide mobilisation alongside the presidential candidate.

Political analysts note that both men bring extensive experience to the table.

Tambuwal has served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor of Sokoto State for two terms and now represents Sokoto South Senatorial District in the Senate.

Throughout his political career, he has remained one of the country’s most influential power brokers, maintaining close relationships across party lines and playing major roles in coalition-building ahead of successive general elections.

He was among the prominent northern politicians who supported Atiku’s presidential ambitions within the PDP before both men eventually left the party for the ADC amid disagreements over the party’s leadership and direction.

Tambuwal formally joined the ADC in March 2026 after resigning from the PDP, where he had remained one of the party’s leading figures for many years.

Shortly after his defection, he announced that he would not seek another term in the Senate.

Explaining the decision at the time, the former governor said stepping aside would help promote unity within the party and create opportunities for younger politicians to assume leadership responsibilities.

His previous experience in managing Atiku’s 2023 campaign is also seen as a major advantage, especially as the opposition seeks to avoid organisational lapses that affected previous electoral outings.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the ADC and former Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor, confirmed that consultations on the composition of the presidential campaign structure were ongoing.

Speaking with The PUNCH, Osadolor said the party leadership would meet on Wednesday, with a final decision on the campaign Director-General expected after the meeting.

“They have not agreed on a name yet but they are to meet this Wednesday,” he said, adding that “some names have been suggested.”

His remarks suggest that although Tambuwal has emerged as the frontrunner, the party leadership is still following internal procedures before making an official announcement.

The consultations also reflect the balancing act within the opposition coalition as leaders work to accommodate various political interests while presenting a united front ahead of the election.

For the ADC, the challenge extends beyond naming a campaign Director-General.

The party must also integrate politicians drawn from different political backgrounds into a single campaign structure capable of taking on the ruling APC.

With Atiku leading the presidential ticket and Amaechi as his running mate, party leaders are expected to ensure that the campaign council reflects Nigeria’s geopolitical diversity while also rewarding loyal party members and coalition partners.

The expected appointment of Tambuwal is therefore being viewed not merely as an administrative decision but as an important political signal regarding the direction of the opposition campaign and the calibre of politicians expected to drive Atiku’s latest bid for the Presidency.

The ruling All Progressives Congress is also intensifying consultations ahead of the commencement of campaigns, with multiple sources in the Presidency and the party disclosing that former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, are the leading contenders to head President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Although no final decision has been taken, insiders said the discussions had narrowed considerably, with Uzodimma currently enjoying the backing of influential party stakeholders.

According to the sources, the APC leadership is weighing political experience, organisational capacity, regional acceptability and religious considerations before making its final choice.

The campaign Director-General is expected to coordinate what could become the largest campaign operation in the country, considering the APC’s control of the Federal Government and its extensive political structures across many states.

Party strategists believe the position requires an individual capable of harmonising the interests of governors, ministers, federal lawmakers, party leaders and thousands of campaign officials expected to participate in the nationwide mobilisation.

The emergence of Uzodimma as the leading contender is also being linked to broader political calculations within the APC.

Since President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima are both Muslims, party leaders are said to be considering a prominent Christian political figure to coordinate the campaign in order to reinforce the administration’s message of inclusiveness.

The APC’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 election generated intense national debate, with many Christian groups expressing concerns over religious representation.

Although the ticket eventually secured victory, party leaders are said to be mindful of sustaining confidence among Christian voters as the President seeks a second term.

A presidency source told The PUNCH that Uzodimma’s emergence would help project religious balance while also rewarding one of the party’s influential governors.

The source said, “At the moment, it is still unclear who will eventually lead the campaign organisation. However, Governor Hope Uzodimma is the person being tipped by party stakeholders to head the APC’s presidential campaign team. That could still change before a final decision is made.”

Imo governor has remained one of President Tinubu’s closest political allies and currently serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, the umbrella body of APC governors.

His position has placed him at the centre of several strategic engagements involving the ruling party, making him one of the administration’s leading political coordinators.

Al-Makura, another respected party stalwart, is also regarded as a loyal party man.

A founding member of the APC’s legacy bloc, the former Nasarawa governor has played key roles in the evolution of the ruling party from the days of the Congress for Progressive Change through the merger that produced the APC in 2013.

His longstanding relationship with President Tinubu and other party leaders has kept him among the influential figures within the ruling party.

Party insiders, however, stressed that consultations were still ongoing and that additional names could emerge before a final announcement.

Beyond the choice of campaign Director-General, the APC is also expected to unveil a broad-based campaign council comprising serving governors, former governors, ministers, lawmakers and party leaders from across the federation.

For the Labour Party, attention is centred on consolidating the gains made during the 2023 presidential election, when the party recorded one of its strongest electoral performances since its formation.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, confirmed that consultations on the campaign structure had reached an advanced stage.

According to him, the party already has a Director-General but has delayed the official unveiling pending the completion of the campaign organogram.

He said, “Our campaign structure is being put together. There is a DG in place, although it has not been unveiled officially. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to start reeling out names ahead of time. The DG is in place, I can assure you. The entire organogram is being fine-tuned as we speak. I’m sure that before August 19, it will be unveiled publicly.”

The Labour Party believes its greatest electoral strength lies in its institutional relationship with organised labour.

Asogwa said the party intended to build its campaign around the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

“We have always said that we have the biggest structure in Nigeria that any political party can have, which, in the past, the Labour Party did not harness. That is the institutional membership that we have in NLC and TUC.”

He explained that the party was working to integrate the structures of both labour unions into its nationwide campaign architecture.

According to him, “So, going into this election, the party has decided to weld together those institutional memberships with the mainstream party. So, what we are doing now is to adopt NLC and TUC as our pivot. The entire structure is built around them, including how we are going to even police our votes during the election.”

The LP spokesman expressed confidence that labour unions would provide the party with a nationwide grassroots structure extending to every polling unit.

He said, “I can assure you that we are going to harness that potential during this campaign period. This time, the NLC is back on track and they have not withdrawn that commitment to serve as party agent during the election. They are ready to deploy all their members across the 186,000 polling units in Nigeria to serve as party agents for free.”

The party also believes that such an arrangement would substantially reduce campaign costs.

Addressing concerns over funding, Asogwa acknowledged that the LP could not compete financially with the ruling party but insisted that prudent management of resources would remain its strategy.

He added, “But for the campaign, the model we are adopting is quite different from the model that the APC or any other political party is adopting. We are not going to adopt or run a bogus or outsized campaign when we know that we don’t have the kind of deep pockets that can finance such a campaign.”

According to him, “So our model is going to be very productive but it’s going to be cost effective at the same time.”

He also acknowledged that supporters of the party would contribute towards campaign expenses.

“Sure! Every presidential campaign comes with people who are willing to defray one or two costs based on the belief they have in what stories they have been selling to them and to the public. So definitely there are so many Nigerians who are committed to assisting the party defray some campaign costs.”

On insecurity, Asogwa urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for campaigns across the country.

“I will answer this question by urging the government in place to do what is necessary to at least curtail the state of insecurity in the land.”

Recalling the postponement of the 2015 general election, he said, “I remember in 2015, in the build-up to that election, President Goodluck Jonathan shifted the election a bit to allow for the military to allow the military carried out an onslaught against Boko Haram in the Northeast then. And within that period that he shifted the election, the military did a very good job in pushing back the terrorists and allowing people to come out to vote.”

He added, “So I urge the government in place today to replicate the same thing, to see that the insecurity is at least reduced to the barest minimum, to allow people to go out and perform their civic responsibility.”

The Social Democratic Party is equally putting finishing touches to its campaign structure.

SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, told The PUNCH that unlike some political parties still searching for candidates and campaign structures, the SDP had commenced preparations long before now.

He said, “We already have our strategy on ground long before now. We had our plans well laid out. That was why we became the SDP was the first to announce its presidential candidate among all political parties. He also didn’t spend more than 24 hours before he nominated a renowned public intellectual, Dr. Usman Bugaje as his running mate.”

The spokesman said the party would soon unveil a formidable campaign team.

“I can assure you, we are going to put up a formidable campaign structure in the characteristics of the presidential candidate. Our campaign DG and his team will unveiled very shortly.”

Aiyenigba said the SDP was not overly concerned about campaign financing, insisting that financial resources alone had never guaranteed electoral victory in Nigeria.

He said the party would instead rely on grassroots mobilisation, public goodwill and the personal appeal of its presidential candidate.

“No, as much as I agree with you that funding is important, money alone doesn’t win elections. We all saw the impact Peter Obi made during the 2023 election. Yet, he didn’t have all the billions like the ruling APC.

“The most important funding support you have is the people. And that is what Adebayo is leveraging on. I believe you saw a trending video of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal endorsing Obi as the best man for the job.

“As much as you are getting the groundswell of endorsements of political influencers like that, you know that there will also be corresponding moral and logistical support to power the project. I can tell you that Prince Adewole Adebayo is by no means a small fry when it comes to capacity to fund his election,” he stated.

Responding to concerns that worsening insecurity across parts of the country could affect campaigns, Aiyenigba argued that the prevailing security situation had, in fact, strengthened the opposition’s message.

He said, “Let me tell you that the campaigns are already going on. Adebayo is the only candidate in Nigeria today who has been traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria. And you see that everywhere he goes, the media follows him, you know that.

“When the president could not even visit Jos metropolis, Adewole went to the neighbourhood and visited the affected families where those things happened. But the president had to turn back from the airport.

“Just two or three months ago, we were in Ilesha, where the whole of Afenifere moved into the party. We don’t see the insecurity as a setback. In fact, it is a major campaign tool for us. All over the country, the people are living in grave despair, fear, anxiety, social tension, uncertainties and all of that.

“They are crying and asking when are we getting out of this? It’s enough campaign on its own. We need to keep assuring the people that a solution is in sight. This is why they need Get the right person in power and you’ll get the right answers.”

Like the SDP, the New Nigeria Peoples Party said it had entered the final stage of constituting its campaign council.

The party’s National Chairman, Major Agbo, disclosed that the National Working Committee would adopt the list of nominees this week before making the composition public.

He said, “Oh, we are working on it. The NWC is expected to adopt one (DG nominees) by Friday this week. Yes, nominations are coming in. Already, we have a committee in place to constitute the campaign council. They are working on it.

“We want to have a broad committee that cuts across all sections of the country. We decided to entrust that to a small committee to be able to come up with what is broadly acceptable. Nominations are still coming in. By Friday, we’ll fine-tune and release the names to the press.”

The NNPP chairman said the party deliberately wanted a campaign structure that reflected Nigeria’s diversity and gave every geopolitical zone a sense of belonging.

On campaign funding, Agbo acknowledged that resources remained important in modern elections but argued that excessive monetisation had become a major obstacle to the growth of smaller political parties.

According to him, “Our position on this issue of campaign funding always is that we must deliberately look for how to go away from this heavily monetised political system, which is stifling to the younger political parties.

“However, I can tell you that we are not afraid of what they have, because as far as we are concerned, we are talking to Nigerians to move away from this issue of monetising our votes and all of that. So, we are not bothered about it.”

He also dismissed suggestions that the ruling APC’s access to government resources would necessarily determine the outcome of the election.

“We also would not want to speak on the war chest that the APC is bringing to the campaign because that is within the speculative realm. Of course, they (ruling party) have not come out to tell you what they are actually bringing for the campaign.

“Of course, funding is a major determinant of who wins elections. But at this level now, we have concertedly spoken to Nigerians on the need to move away from money when it comes to votes casting and all of that. So, we hope that Nigerians will see reasons why they should also look at the younger parties that probably do not have the kind of resources that the party in government has. So, we are not bothered or worried.”

On campaign strategy, Agbo said the party intended to return to traditional grassroots mobilisation.

He explained, “We are trying to adopt the house-to-house, community-to-community and village-to-village approach, using what our people used before they brought in this issue of money factor. We will be using town criers, town halls, community meetings and grassroots meetings.

“Our party all along has always been the party of the ordinary people. So, we don’t want to move away from it. And the only way you can reach ordinary people is to adopt the strategies that are known to them. That is the use of town criers. Those are the things they are used to. So, we want to strengthen that for our 2027 general election.”

On insecurity, he maintained that elections would still hold despite prevailing security challenges.

“We saw it during the build-up to 2023. It looks like there won’t be a Nigeria at the end of the election. But at the end of the day, people were able to move around to do their campaigns and visited where their voter cards are domiciled, to be able to cast their votes. So, I don’t see anything different from that.”

He added, “Funny enough, as I said, in a few days or a few weeks to the election, it will always subside. We are going to see it happen. This year would also not be an exception.”

The National Democratic Coalition also confirmed that consultations on its campaign structure had yet to be concluded.

NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party leadership was carefully weighing several considerations before naming a campaign Director-General.

He said, “We have not decided on that. We are also meeting and consultation. Once the consultation is concluded, we shall announce the DG of our campaign at the appropriate time.”

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN